Friday, 16 October 2009

TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin - 16th October 2009
 
Join us at the Oxford Union's EU Debate
 
Next week, the TPA is sponsoring a major debate at the prestigious Oxford Union Society, on the issue of Britain's future relationship with the EU. Proposing the motion "This House Believes that there is life after Brussels" will be: Dr Lee Rotherham, the TPA's EU expert and Ruth Lea, Director of Global Vision, against an Opposition consisting of Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, the Vice President of the European Parliament, and Richard Laming of the European Movement.
 
Normally, only Oxford Union Society members are allowed in the audience at such a debate, but we have 15 free spaces available for TPA supporters. If you would like to attend, please email mark.wallace@taxpayersalliance.com with your name - the places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The debate will run from 8.30pm to 10.30pm at The Oxford Union Society, Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3JB. Of course, if any TPA supporters are already members of the Oxford Union Society you are more than welcome to attend, too!
 
Sign our referendum petition

Many of you may have seen us on the news last week gathering hundreds of signatures on our giant postcard addressed to President Klaus of the Czech Republic asking him to hold on the Lisbon Treaty until Britain gets the referendum we were promised. Now, you too can sign the postcard - online! We've established a petition version of the postcard here to gather even more signatures that we can send to this brave man who is sticking his neck out for the sake of our democracy. Please do sign the petition and email the link on to your friends and family - the more people who sign, the better our chance of getting that referendum. 
 
MPs' expenses - they just don't learn
 
Amazingly, as soon as Parliament came back from their extended summer holiday this week, there was a return to the familiar sight of Honourable Members refusing to accept they had done anything wrong. If you'd thought that the phrase "It was all within the rules" was dead and buried, then think again. While we have made great progress in forcing the obstructive old Speaker out of office, in exposing the reality of MPs' expenses claims and in kicking off genuine reform of the system, there is clearly still quite a way to go in cleaning up Westminster. Sir Thomas Legg has done a great job in auditing MPs' cleaning and gardening bills, but he needs the support of all of us in making MPs abide by his ruling and pay back any excessive claims. Why not write to your MP asking them if they have received a letter demanding repayment, if they have paid the money back yet (and if not, when they will do so), and urging them to back all necessary measures to clean up our Parliament?
 
The TPA versus the South West Regional Development Agency
 
Ever since our report on abolishing the Regional Development Agencies, published last year, we have been fighting a running battle to see these wasteful quangos scrapped for good. The next battle in that war is an event being hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses in the South West where our Campaign Director, Mark Wallace, will be going head to head with Sir Harry Studholme, Chairman of the South West Regional Development Agency on the issue "Are Regional Development Agencies good value for money?" You can guess our answer to that question! The event will be held on Tuesday 27th Oct from 6 pm at The Parkinson Lecture Theatre, Royal Agricultural College, Stroud Road, Cirencester, GL7 6JS. Tickets cost £10, which includes a buffet. To book tickets please contact Denise Martin at the FSB at region.office119@fsb.org.uk or on 0845 257 6030.

The Painspotter’s Guide to Broken Britain
 
Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry to win a copy of Andrew Holmes’ satirical look at the credit crunch and the now infamous Great Recession. Matthew and Andrew have completed their deliberations and have chosen the winners, who will be receiving a signed copy of the book very shortly.

For those unlucky not to have won, there is still a chance to secure a copy of the book from all good outlets. It’s in WH Smiths, on the 3 for 2 tables at Waterstone’s and of course available at Amazon – just follow the link: The Painspotter's Guide to Broken Britain.  The book, set out like a bird spotting manual allows you to ‘spot’ the 50 different types of ‘Pain’ you will have seen or perhaps heard about during the course of the credit crunch and Great Recession. Each entry describes the Pain, includes a sympathy and rarity rating, describes what they are doing now (now that the recession is ending) and has a series of avoidance and revenge strategies. Replete with wonderful images from Dan Wilson, the book includes all of the TPA’s favourites, such as The Taxed to Death, The Gravy Train Politician and the Secure Civil Servant. You also have the chance to tick them off once you have spotted them (in true spotting style).

The book is possibly the only way to escape from the parlous state of the nation; it’s cheaper than therapy and more effective than Prozac. It is also worth remembering that it cannot be taxed, is currently free from VAT and is heavily discounted (after all it is still economically tough out there right now). There is also a website, dedicated to the art and science of Painspotting where you understand what it means to be an expert Painspotter – http://www.painspotting.co.uk/.

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Posted by Britannia Radio at 18:28