|
The NHS was front and centre in the news this week. A TPA investigation revealed supposedly cash-strapped NHS trusts are sitting on ÂŁ12 million worth of artwork.
|
|
In comments to The Daily Telegraph our chief executive, John O’Connell, rightly warned that “hospitals are turning into mini art galleries.”
That wasn’t all we uncovered this week. Our investigations manager Elliot Keck discovered the health service was advertising for 16 diversity, equality, inclusion, and wellbeing roles during October with a combined total salary of over £700,000!
|
|
Elliot railed against this latest example of NHS wokery, blasting: “Taxpayers are sick of seeing precious resources used to pay for NHS diversity hires. While health bosses complain that hospitals are understaffed, NHS bodies continue pumping out ads for yet more diversity demagogues.”
All this is off the back of a previous TPA exposé showing the health service has blown £1 million on woke groups for staff.
With all this waste (and more) in the system, demands for ÂŁ7 billion from health chiefs are a little hard to swallow. It’s high time ministers and health bosses get a grip and ensure that funds are directed towards frontline roles.Â
If you’re sick of seeing your cash wasted, click here to support our campaign.
|
|
|
With former health secretary Matt Hancock announcing that he’s jetting off to join the latest season of I’m a Celebrity, the TPA team reacted with fury to him abandoning his responsibilities to kick start his TV career.
|
|
Our digital campaign manager Joe Ventre summed up the situation perfectly, slamming Hancock’s decision: “this grubby spectacle will leave a bad taste in the mouths of his constituents”. Joe called for him to not receive a penny of taxpayers’ money while on his TV hiatus.
Our comments certainly made a splash with the media, being covered by the Daily Mail and others.
|
|
|
It simply cannot be right for Matt Hancock to abandon his constituents for a jolly in the jungle!
|
|
|
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
|
|
|
Rishi plans raid
At the beginning of the week, taxes were the talk of the town, with reports that Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt were planning massive tax grabs. Naturally, as the go-to-group speaking up for taxpayers, our spokesmen were all over the airwaves and newspapers.
|
|
|
In comments picked up by both The Daily Telegraph and Daily Express, John called out the proposed hikes blasting: “Taxpayers will be horrified by talk of bigger bills to come. With the tax burden at a 70 year high, Brits are being expected to bear the brunt of a spiralling cost of government crisis.”
|
|
|
Taking our message to TalkTV viewers and listeners, Elliot followed up by lambasting the idea that people can simply continue to pay more and more tax to make up for the outrageous cost of government.Â
|
|
|
Ministers must get a grip of this “completely unsustainable” situation. Click here to watch the clip!
|
|
|
TPA chief economist, Duncan Simpson, also didn’t mince his words when outlining the fiscal realities we face.
|
|
|
Duncan reminded GB News viewers across the country that “the tax burden has for a couple of years now actually has been at basically a post-war high. The idea that we are an undertaxed society independently or relatively to other rich countries is completely for the birds.”
|
|
Penalising pints?
The Alcohol Health Alliance UK used a letter to the PM this week demanding an increase to the taxes paid on the humble pint.Â
|
|
|
|
John shot down the latest nannying ideas in comments to Mail Online: “Further hikes in booze duties would only hammer the households who are hardest up, while doing little to dissuade problem drinkers.”
|
|
October waste roundup
For this week’s blog, Elliot brings us a summary of his latest investigations as part of our War on Waste campaign.
|
|
|
Elliot has revealed waste right across the public sector. Unfortunately, as Elliot pointed out: “October was a month of horrors. And no, not just Halloween.” Read the full compilation of recent waste stories here.
|
|
|
With so much waste this week, we thought it would be nice to bring you a good news story for once.
|
|
Benjamin Elks
Fundraising, Operations, and Events assistant
|
|
|
|
|
