This week both the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Conservatives published their general election manifestos. The TPA research team cast their analytical eye over them and whilst there are some promising pledges there is still a lot left to be desired.

The good: Welcome news from the Conservative party as they pledged to cut business rates as well as employees' and employers' national insurance. Raising the national insurance threshold offers employees refreshing respite from what is essentially a second income tax. The DUP manifesto also promised to back tax cuts as well as abolishing the incredibly unpopular BBC licence fee. They also talked about meaningful reduction in tax levels on insurance, motoring and holidays.

The bad: Whilst the Tories promised a triple lock tax freeze there are concerns about the many promised spending splurges. Voters will rightly want to know how such generous increases in funding for frontline services will be paid for. Surely it would be far better to eradicate wasteful spending first. The DUP want an abundance of spending in Northern Ireland which is optimistic given public spending per head is already higher there than anywhere else in the UK.

Whichever party wins the election I hope they will heed the calls of the TPA for lower, simpler taxes and eradicating wasteful spending.

What are your thoughts on the parties' manifestos?

Talking tax on talkRadio

On Wednesday our chief executive John O'Connell spoke to talkRadio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer about some of the manifesto pledges made during the election campaign. All the major parties have promised more spending and in many cases taxes will have to rise as a result.

John pointed out that as our recent polling showed, many voters (especially those on lower incomes) don't want to pay more tax. When it comes to higher earners, the top 1 per cent of earners pay 29 per cent of all income tax, it is simply not credible to ask them to pay more. Click here to listen to a clip.

Major flaw in WASPI pledge

A pledge by the Labour party to pay £58 billion in compensation to women affected by changes in their pensions has run into a major hurdle. Some have speculated that as a result of Labour's separate proposal to allow people to specify their own gender that "a man born in the 1950s could legally declare themselves to be a woman to become entitled to the payment".

Our political director James Roberts gave his thoughts on the matter for the Daily Express, "This is just one of the ways taxpayers are likely to be stung by the raft of daft promises made by Corbyn. Letting people redefine their gender for pensions purposes could see canny baby boomers cheat the system and further complicate the already-convoluted tax rules. Creating loopholes and costing taxpayers’ cash are hallmarks of yet more badly thought out election promises from preening politicians."

We are looking for a new Digital Campaign Manager. If you can create graphics, edit videos and manage multiple social media accounts and you believe taxes should be lower, apply now!

Click here to find out more about the role.

Bringing the BBC into the 21st Century

Recently the world celebrated the United Nations' world television day. With TV being the single most used form of media our campaign manager Sam Packer wrote a blog discussing how to bring the BBC into the 21^st century. For many people the licence fee, or "TV tax" as some have christened it, represents a huge drain on their income. 

Sam argues that the licence fee model is not fit for purpose and notes how the BBC and ITV are now launching their Britbox streaming service for £5.99 per month. Unlike the licence fee, consumers are free to opt-in or out of the service; they are not forced to pay for something they do not want. Sam goes on to say that this hated tax should be abolished:

"The licence fee is a hangover from a past media age. It is high time that politicians saw the problems in the system and put a stop to this annual poll tax. Whoever wins the election, when potential BBC ministers Nigel Adams or Lord Griffiths consider their planned reforms, bringing the licence fee into the 21^st century should be the first thing on their mind." 

Do you agree with Sam?

Council splashes £10,000 chauffeuring mayor

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has driven taxpayers up the wall in Northern Ireland by paying £10,000 to chauffeur their Lord Mayor and Lord Deputy over the last three years. Instead of using a council owned car, the council has instead opted to pay a private chauffeur company.

Last year we published a report highlighting the egregious cost of mayoral cars. Local reporter Laura Barr revealed the chauffeur company charged the council £350 to use their Mercedes-Benz S Class for two hours. Over three years, this added up to a bill of £10,850.

Our political director James Roberts condemned the spending, "Taxpayers are tired of hearing local authorities say they have no money left when there are still plenty of cases of town hall bosses wasting cash, living the high life and enjoying the perks of public money”. 

Let me know your examples of wasteful spending.

Harry Fone Grassroots Campaign Manager

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