Britannia Radio

Dear Supporter, Before the start of the new political year in September, I wanted to make you aware of an important personnel change here at TPA HQ. After eight very exciting years as Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, I have decided to pass on my day-to-day management and fundraising responsibilities to our very capable Director, Matt Sinclair. As you may know, Matt joined the TPA five years ago as a Policy Analyst, rising through the ranks to become Director of the campaign when I went on my eight month sabbatical to run the successful NOtoAV referendum campaign. He also fitted in time to write a well-received book, Let them Eat Carbon, and edit two major publications, How to Cut Spending and The Single Income Tax. Over the past year, he has taken more responsibility for the running of the TPA and I am confident that he will be an extremely worthy successor to me as Chief Executive. I’m not going far though! I’ll be staying in my office at 55 Tufton Street and will still be very much involved as part of the leadership team of the TPA, along with our Chairman Andrew Allum. Having overseen the growth of the TPA from being a group of volunteers meeting in coffee shops to being one of the largest campaign groups in the UK, I am still eager to play an active role as Founder of the campaign. I will also continue to oversee Big Brother Watch, which I launched in 2009. With the time this frees up, I am working on a new project here at 55 Tufton Street which I look forward to telling you all about in the Autumn. These are exciting times in British politics, and there is much to be done on the campaigning and referendums front.  With the economy still in recession, the objectives of the TPA – reforming taxes, cutting spending and protecting taxpayers – are as important as ever. I am looking forward to working with Matt and the team as they continue the fight. I’m really grateful for your support over the past eight years,  With warm regards, Matthew Elliott Founder Cash in hand controversy This week, at a speech by Treasury Minister David Gauke discussing steps the Government is taking to tackle tax avoidance, Research Associate Rory Meakin was there representing the TPA and asked whether it was realistic to think that the Government could really deal with the problem while our tax code is still so complicated and incoherent. Rory wrote about why that wasn't realistic for our website. At the same event, the Minister commented that paying cash in hand for a discount was morally wrong, as it meant people were enabling traders to avoid paying their taxes. TPA staff responded in the media arguing that, while evading taxes is wrong, so long as many people in the squeezed middle feel that benefit fraudsters can rip off the taxpayer on the one hand, and those fortunate enough to afford crafty accountants and expensive lawyers can dodge their taxes by finding legal loopholes on the other, they will find it hypocritical for ministers to lecture them about paying cash in hand. The only way things will improve is if the tax system is reformed so people can have confidence everyone is paying no more and no less than their fair share. Campaign Manager Rob Oxley spoke to Sky News for example, and Matt Sinclair spoke to Radio 5 Live. Best of the blogs Declan Pang wrote about how Barnet Council are trying to ensure that council houses go to those who need them most.  Chris Daniel looked at an incredible example of how your money was spent on the "Cultural Olympiad" attached to the Olympic Games, the £500,000 Nowhereisland.  Andrew Allison reported the non-job this week: a Communications Manager at the London Assembly. He also warned that a new tax - the workplace parking levy - could be coming to a town near you.  Finally, Matt Sinclair wrote for the Telegraph website about union fat cats holding public services to ransom and for the Spectator website about a battle in Whitehall over exorbitantly expensive climate change regulations.