Tuesday saw the much-anticipated release of the BBC's annual report and attention soon fell on the bumper salaries paid to the Beeb's 'top talent'. The corporation was keen to stress that its wage bill had decreased but presenters such as Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball took home ÂŁ1.35 million and ÂŁ980,000 respectively.
Given the increases in the licence fee in recent years and charging those over 75, questions have rightly been asked about whether taxpayers are getting value for money?
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Our comments on the Beeb's annual report were picked up by a number of national newspapers with our chief executive John O'Connell calling for change:
"Despite it being the first year of pensioners paying the TV tax, the Beeb’s top salaries have barely budged. These pay packets are taken from the pockets of hard-up pensioners and struggling taxpayers, who are fed up with the licence fee. Auntie may be moving in the right direction, but it’s high time we axed the TV tax and stopped taxpayers’ money going to these media millionaires."
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We’ve railed against wasteful spending at the BBC throughout our 18-year history. The licence fee is not fit for the 21st century. With drastic technological change and the myriad ways in which people watch the media, the current model looks increasingly outdated.
That's why In January 2020, we launched our Axe the Tax campaign to scrap the BBC licence fee. It’s time taxpayers stop being forced to support the BBC!Â
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Union bosses take home ÂŁ280,000 in pay and perks
This week the transport unions voted through the "biggest rail strike in 25 years". Sadly it means that taxpayers are set for more travel misery thanks to selfish union bosses. But the TPA didn't delay in leading the fight back!
As we made clear in a press release to the media just two Aslef trade union bosses had a combined total remuneration of £281,601 in 2021. Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, took home £151,371 in total remuneration in 2021. While Aslef’s Assistant General Secretary, Simon Weller, received £130,230 in the same year.
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In her comments to The Sun newspaper, our media campaign manager Danielle Boxall stood up for common sense, saying, “Taxpayers are fed up with lectures and disruption from loaded union leaders. These red barons are dooming commuters to misery, but are sitting comfortably as some of Britain’s biggest earners in taxpayer-backed unions. Ministers must take a stand against these hypocritical union heads.” Hear! Hear!
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We've been leading the fight back against loaded union bosses for years. We first unearthed trade union facility time back in 2010. In 2020-21 alone, this practice cost taxpayers almost £100 million. While we pay in, they walk out!
It’s time for the government to crack down on facility time and stop letting taxpayers’ money subsidise strikes.
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Millions of 'ghost' patients registered at GP surgeries
An investigation by the Daily Mail has unearthed worrying data about the number of patients registered with GP surgeries. According to the paper, "61.7 million people are registered at GP practices in England despite there only being 56.5 million people alive" - meaning there are 5.2 million ghost patients.
There are concerns that practices "Â could be deliberately letting their patient lists become overinflated to get extra cash."
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Speak to the Mail, our John O'Connell demanded action is taken, telling readers, "It's astonishing that so many of these ghost patients still exist. The determination to pull out all the stops to help patients is one of the most admirable things about the NHS, but that is being threatened by BMA bean-counting. Health bosses must take steps towards cutting these figures sooner rather than later."
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Away with the birds
Given the enormous demands on emergency services at the moment, you would think those in charge would have their priorities straight. Not in Hereford it seems after police officers and firefighters were called out to rescue a gull from a building.
According to the Daily Telegraph, "The bird, named Steven, became caught in netting on a building, after which the RSPCA was called out to help. However, police and two fire engines later arrived at the city centre for the over-the-top mission."
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Steven was eventually rescued with the aid of a cherry picker. Speaking to the Telegraph Danielle express her concerns about the resource-heavy rescue, “Public services should prioritise the use of taxpayers’ money and ensure excessive resources aren’t wasted on unnecessary operations.”
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Back small businesses by cutting taxes
Businesses up and down the country are under huge financial pressures at the moment as they wrestle with price increases and a litany of taxes. As Ethan Wilkinson, owner of a Great Gelato in Milton Keynes writes this week:
"Despite the money coming in quicker than we could make gelato and cookies, we were surprised to see that nothing remained in our pocket. By the time we had set aside our hard-earned dough for staff, suppliers, rent, bills and the taxman, we had nothing left over. Not even a penny."
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Profit margins have been squeezed so much that Wilkinson had to make "the incredibly difficult decision" to lay off staff and cut hours. This could have been avoided if the tax bill hadn't been so great.Â
This is why we're telling the chancellor he shouldn't wait a moment longer to cut taxes. It would save jobs and grow the economy! Click here to read more.
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Coventry councillors in trouble again!
We've previously brought you news about wasteful spending on foreign jollies and mayor-making ceremonies by Coventry council.
But the latest news really takes the biscuit! According to the local paper, a freedom of information request revealed that 14 councillors "had to be reminded to pay council tax" between 2019 and 2022. In one case, a court issued an elected member a liability order relating to council tax arrears of over ÂŁ1,300!
Weighing in on the news I told reported Ellie Brown, “This is a kick in the teeth for hard-working taxpayers forced to swallow continuous council tax hikes. Residents who play by the rules expect the councillors who represent them to pay their own council tax on time. Coventry Council should ensure all elected officials pay their bills when they’re due.”
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Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager
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