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Figures from HM Revenue & Customs have revealed it collected nearly £720 billion in taxes last year - that's an increase of 25 per cent from the previous year. It comes after the chancellor Rishi Sunak froze income tax thresholds and rising inflation further exacerbated the strain on households' finances.
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We didn't delay in issuing calls for the chancellor to give taxpayers some much-needed respite. In our comments which made the front pages of the Daily Telegraph and Express we pointed out that the Chancellor's tax break freeze is effectively a stealth tax on unsuspecting taxpayers already facing the highest tax burden in 70 years.
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It wasn't long before our message was being heard loud and clear across the airwaves as well. Our media campaign manager, Danielle Boxall, appeared on GBNews describing the tax take as reaching "an astronomical high".Â
She called on the Treasury to link thresholds with inflation or wage growth to avoid fiscal drag. This will give taxpayers and businesses some breathing room and help ease the cost of living crisis. The TaxPayers' Alliance will continue to bang the drum for common-sense tax policies.
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Grassroots news: Town Hall Rich List Roadshow
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Following the huge success of the Town Hall Rich List in national and local media, we are taking the findings to the streets! Over the next few months, the TaxPayers' Alliance will be touring the length and breadth of the country. We'll be telling residents all about town hall fat cats in their area.
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Our roadshow starts in Hythe, Kent next Friday (6th May). In the coming weeks we'll also be visiting, Morpeth, Lincoln, Shaftesbury, Cardiff, Croydon, Sandwell and Glasgow. If you'd like to join us then please email me.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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End of the road for BBC licence fee?
The culture secretary Nadine Dorries has described the licence fee as "completely outdated" and suggested that a new way of funding the Beeb is very much on the cards.Â
Speaking about the reports on newly launched TalkTV, our digital campaign manager Joe Ventre described the news as "very promising".
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Adding in his comments to the audience and presenter Jeremy Kyle, "The [funding] model itself is now fundamentally unsustainable!"
Joe further expanded on his argument in a blog this week. He asks, what does it say that even in the midst of a cost of living crisis, the BBC still thinks that it can get away with leveraging a charge on people for simply owning a telly? Click here to read more.
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Council staff enjoy work from home perk
The Daily Mail reports that council staff "are being allowed to work from home up to four days a week." As I discussed last week, numerous civil servants in Whitehall are resisting calls to come back to the office.
It once again raises questions about whether local authorities need so much costly real estate?
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In his comments to the paper, our chief executive John O'Connell had a clear message to town hall bosses, "Residents fed up with colossal council tax bills and bumper pay rises for staff will be doubly disappointed to find out they're paying a small fortune to bankroll these barren buildings. If flexible working is to stay, council officials should be moved out and the savings passed on to hard-pressed residents."
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The cost of policing protests
A number of activists from Just Stop Oil were arrested earlier in the week after causing criminal damage to petrol pumps at a service station on the M25. Scores of police officers had to attend, making around 35 arrests in the process. Many people are asking what the costs of policing such protests are to the taxpayer?
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Speaking to listeners on BBC Radio Sussex, I explained that whilst peaceful protesting is a fundamental part of a vibrant democracy it doesn't seem fair that taxpayers have to pick up the tab. We know from the Extinction Rebellion protests that the total cost to the public purse was an eye-watering £70 million!
These protestors should be paying the bill for the disruption. Click here to listen to the interview.
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On track, how do we rate Britain's railways?
The recent launch of the Great British Rail Sale generated a mixed response from the public and pundits alike. Some detractors were eager to argue that this was a sticking plaster for a gaping wound. They claim that Britain's railways are too slow and expensive.
However, as I write this week are Britain’s railways as bad as they are made out to be, and should they be fully renationalised?
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In short no, comparisons of speed and price with other railways don't compare like with like. What our system needs is more competition not public ownership. Competition and investment will deliver the best value for taxpayers and passengers. Click here to read more.
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Lags enjoying the good life at maximum-security prisons
An investigation by the Mirror reports that "a top security jail is teaching violent criminals to chill out and find their inner peace." Prisoners can enjoy sessions and therapies that cover, crafts, art, drama, games and even yoga! Apparently, a pet therapist has also been given the okay.
Weighing in on the news our political director James Roberts took a much-needed stand for taxpayers. He told the powers be that this "prison pampering has to stop" as it was "wasting cash". Hear! Hear!
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Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager
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