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The TPA team have just arrived back from Reform’s conference in Birmingham and I’ve got to say, we had a great time meeting everyone. We had hundreds of conversations with party members, councillors, and small business owners, hearing of their struggles and their efforts to keep going in the face of a record tax burden and endless regulation.Â
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On the eve of the conference we released new figures from our Dynamic Tax Model, analysing the impact of some of Reform’s tax proposals. With Reform backing the TPA’s campaign to abolish inheritance tax, as well as upping the personal allowance to £20,000 and an additional marriage allowance of £5,000, our model shows these changes could boost average earnings by £755 and see economic growth 0.2 per cent higher each year. Darwin Friend explained to Express readers: “Scrapping inheritance tax, an increase in the personal allowance and more generous provisions for married couples would make a real difference, although they need to be part of a complete transformation of the tax system. But Reform UK’s policymakers have to clearly and cogently explain how they will ensure the spending restraint desperately needed for these plans to be fiscally credible.”
With our stand all set up, we were quickly inundated with attendees, all wanting to hear about our work. Our team worked relentlessly, spreading the message of lower, simpler taxes and efficient government spending. We handed out hundreds of factbooks covering the national debt and inheritance tax, talked about waste with newly elected councillors, and told grassroots activists how they can help hold politicians to account. All this before the party’s deputy leader joined the TPA for a discussion on how a future Reform government might cut taxes.
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Richard Tice sat down with the TPA’s John O’Connell, host of our podcast Duncan Barkes, political analyst James Frayne, and Reform party board member Gawain Towler, for a wide ranging chat about the state of the public finances, the desperate need to curtail spending, and how tax cuts could boost our economy. It’s fair to say the discussion was a hit with conference goers as we were reduced to standing room only. It wasn’t only at our event that you could hear from the TPA as our team could be found addressing audiences for Forest and the Heartland Institute, pushing the TPA’s message throughout the conference.Â
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There’s undoubtedly a buzz around Reform right now and the energy was undeniable in Birmingham. But hard-working Brits know well the bitter taste of disappointment. Which is why as Reform develop their policy platform in the years ahead, we’ll be sure to remind them to keep taxpayers at the heart of it.
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Andrew Griffith MP on Inheritance Tax, Farage & the ECHR
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Duncan is joined by Elliot Keck and Andrew Griffith, Shadow Business Secretary and MP for Arundel and South Downs, for this week’s episode of a nation of taxpayers.
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They discuss the Prime Minister's latest 'reset', the state of UK business under Labour and whether Andrew supports quitting the ECHR. Andrew also gives his view on inheritance tax, the threat of Reform UK and whether the triple-lock on pensions is sustainable. Give the latest episode of a nation of taxpayers a listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Keep your ears out for our special episode next week recorded live from Reform conference.Â
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An invitation to Angela Rayner
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We’ve been banging on for years about the complexity of the tax system. As our recently updated Tax Briefing Room illustrates, successive governments have layered evermore complication into the system with their endless tinkering, making it harder and harder for businesses and taxpayers to navigate.
The system is so complex that it has claimed its latest scalp, the now former deputy prime minister. Finding herself in a spot of bother over the amount of stamp duty she was supposed to pay, she had the TPA’s sympathies. Indeed, we were so moved by her plight, Elliot wrote to Ms Rayner with an invitation to join our campaign to stamp out stamp duty.
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Concerning stamp duty, Elliot wrote: “This tax on moving house gums up the housing market, punishes aspiration, and stops people moving to homes. Unfortunately you have fallen foul of the absurdities of this appalling levy. At the TPA, we’ve long campaigned to abolish both stamp duty and inheritance tax. By joining us, you would be adding your voice to a movement that speaks to ordinary taxpayers up and down the country who are fed up with being punished for trying to get on and provide for their families. Given your own brush with these issues, you are well placed to understand why our campaigns matter.” Have a read of the full letter here.Â
While we might be optimists in the TPA office, I fear, as Steerpike said in the Spectator, that we shouldn’t be holding our breath.Â
Having been forced out of her job by our absurdly complicated tax system, we hope the former housing secretary now has some sympathy for campaigns like ours. Ange, our door is always open. You’re welcome to join us anytime.
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John went international (from the comfort of the TPA media studio) this week when he joined the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union for their weekly podcast, Taxpayer Talk.Â
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Speaking with James Ross, head of policy and legislative affairs at the Taxpayers’ Union, they dug into some big issues, to see what New Zealand can learn from the UK's (many) mistakes.
Covering everything from the death tax to John's role in exposing the MPs' expenses scandal, this wide ranging conversation is a must listen. Click here to give it a go.
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Reforming council pensions
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Reform UK may have ended the week with their big bash in Birmingham, but they kicked it off with some interesting proposals on local government pensions that certainly caught our eyes.Â
With their focus on delivering net zero targets, combined with high management fees, Reform UK claimed council taxpayers are missing out on ÂŁ10 billion! Money that could be returned to the pockets of ratepayers. So much so, Reform UK estimate council tax bills could be cut by ÂŁ350. Music to our ears!
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Elliot used his monthly op-ed in ConservativeHome to highlight why getting value for money in these schemes is so important: “How well these pension schemes do is vital to local government finances. Perform highly, and the contributions needed from local government to meet their liabilities under actuarial calculations will fall. That’s extra cash that can be used to meet social care and SEND responsibilities without the need for a council tax rise. Perform poorly and it’s yet greater pressure on town hall budgets… Reform’s pledge is to run these schemes significantly better. For any Conservative councils tuning in, they should be taking heed.” Quite right
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Drill baby drill: securing Britain's energy future
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In this week’s blog, Darwin Friend takes a look at the damage the UK’s refusal to to exploit our own oil and gas is doing to British households any why it’s time to “Drill baby, Drill!” as the Donald would say.Â
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Highlighting Kemi Badenoch’s embrace of this rhetoric, Darwin notes: “The benefits are obvious. Greater domestic supply means fewer price shocks when global markets go haywire. A stronger North Sea industry means high-skilled jobs in Britain rather than abroad. And a stable tax regime means a steady stream of revenue, not the boom-and-bust cycle of knee-jerk raids. All this while still giving the industry incentives to invest in carbon capture, hydrogen and offshore wind. A balanced approach to the transition instead of a reckless rush.”
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Have a read of Darwin’s blog in full here
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Weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable. I’m sure we’ve all had a time when we’ve dressed for some sunny day only to be caught in a downpour. Well, perhaps if those responsible for predicting the weather spent a little more time at their desks rather than jet-setting to far-flung destinations like Dubai, South Africa, and Indonesia, they might be a little more accurate.
A TPA investigation revealed that staff at the Met Office have racked up a bill of ÂŁ7.5 million on 19,393 flights over the last three years. In total, staff at various quangos spent more than ÂŁ20 million on 45,792 flights. Have a read of the investigation here. |
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Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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