Taxpayers' Alliance | 08/09 Review

TaxPayers’ Alliance | 08/09 Review Contents 2 Meet the team The people that make it happen 4 Grassroots A force to be reckoned with 6 - 17 08/09 Timeline A snapshot of the year’s events and media coverage 18 - 24 Policy Influence Better Government | Transparency | EU | Hate Education 25 Going forward Meeting targets, pushing boundaries

London office | 83 Victoria Street, Westminster, London SW1H 0HW West Midlands office | Trigate, 210 - 222 Hagley Road West, Birmingham B68 0NP Telephone: 0845 330 9554 | Email: [email protected] The TaxPayers’ Alliance is a Company Limited by Guarantee in England No. 04873888

“Britain’s independent grassroots campaign for better services and lower taxes” www.taxpayersalliance.com Welcome to the 08/09 Review 1 of the TaxPayers' Alliance

Dear Supporter,

2009 saw the fifth anniversary of the launch of the TaxPayers' Alliance; looking back think tank or campaign group operating in British politics. This guarantees our over the past five years we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved. When many independence, ensures that we stick to our principles and makes us unafraid to speak people come across the TPA for the first time, they assume that we are a decades-old our mind. A big thank you to all of you. institution, which is testament to the impact we have had over a comparatively short Once you have read this review, do give us feedback. If you would like to become an period of time. activist or if you would like to make a contribution to the campaign, we'd be delighted How many other organisations are used as an adjective in the media? One print to hear from you. journalist recently wrote that he was coming over “all TaxPayers’ Alliance”. This The next year is going to be crucial with the run-up to the general election. The illustrates the position we now hold in Britain as the guardian of taxpayers' money, the economy is in a mess and the fiscal situation is dire. We hope you will join us in our voice for taxpayers in the media and their representative in Westminster. campaigning ahead. This success is down to the hard work of our campaign team (whom you can read With best wishes, more about on the following pages), our 25 local branches, our 3,000 activists and our 32,000 supporters. The other people who deserve a special mention are our fellow Board members – Mike Denham, Florence Heath, Ruth Lea, Saul Haydon Rowe, Johannes Tynes – who guide the campaign and ensure we meet our targets (see page 25). All this wouldn't be possible, of course, without the generous financial assistance of Andrew Allum Matthew Elliott our supporters. We are proud of having one of the broadest bases of support of any Chairman Chief Executive 2

Meet the team Mark Wallace Matthew Elliott Campaign Director Co-founder and Chief Executive The people that Mark studied Archaeology at Durham University, then became Matthew Elliott was born and brought Campaign Manager of the Freedom Association, before joining up in Leeds. He moved down to London make it happen the TPA as Campaign Director in 2007. He is responsible for in 1997 to study at the London School promoting the TPA’s research and message, and overseeing our of Economics, where he graduated with EU campaign. a First class BSc in Government. After graduation, Matthew worked for a number of MPs and MEPs in the House of Commons and the European Parliament, before co-founding the TaxPayers’ Alliance in 2004. As Chief Executive, Matthew is responsible for making the TPA Britain's highest profile campaign group or think tank. He directs the operations of the TPA, regularly lectures in both Britain and Sara Rainwater overseas, and is frequently asked to Operations Director appear in the media as an expert on John O’Connell Sara attended Middle Tennessee fiscal policy, British and EU politics. Policy Analyst State University and then the Matthew is a Fellow of the Royal John attended Nottingham Trent London School of Economics, where Society of Arts, has written numerous University, where he received a she received a Masters degree in think tank pamphlets and authored Bachelors degree in Politics, and European Studies. After graduating, four books: The Bumper Book of then University College London, Sara worked at the European Government Waste (Harriman House where he obtained a Masters degree Foundation, edited the European 2006); The Bumper Book of in European Public Policy. As a policy Journal and later joined Global Government Waste 2008 (Harriman analyst in the research team, John House 2007); The Great European Matthew Sinclair Vision as the manager. Sara concentrates on government oversees the administration and Rip-Off(Random House 2009); and Research Director institutions, local government waste management across the TPA’s two Fleeced! (Constable & Robinson 2009). Matthew studied for a BSc in Economics and public sector productivity. offices in London and Birmingham. and Economic History and an MSc in Economic History at the London School of Economics before starting at the TPA in 2007. He has been the Research Tim Aker Director since the end of 2008, is Grassroots Co-ordinator responsible for leading the TPA’s Tim read History and Politics at Nottingham University. After research effort and has produced graduating he worked for Chelgate, before joining the TPA pioneering research on the NHS, green in May 2007. He is responsible for building the TPA’s taxes, the cost of crime, taxpayer grassroots campaign and liasing with our 3,000 activists. funded lobbying and the financial crisis. www.taxpayersalliance.com Meet the team | The people that make it happen 3

Florence Heath Co-founder Florence moved to London in 2000 to study Geology at Imperial College, graduating with a Masters in Petroleum Geology. As well as co-founding the TPA, Florence has authored think tank publications, been involved in international political organisations and currently works as a geologist for an international petroleum company. Susie Squire Andrew Allum Political Director Co-founder and Chairman Susie studied English Literature and Andrew studied at Imperial College Political Philosophy at the University where he graduated with a First in of Cape Town, graduating with a Physics, after which he obtained a Masters degree in English. Since Masters degree from Oxford. Prior graduation, Susie has worked on a to becoming the TPA's unpaid, number of voluntary projects in non-executive Chairman, Andrew Southern Africa, written for Conde led Conservative student groups, Nast and managed the Stockholm and has served as a Westminster Fiona McEvoy Network think tank’s relationship City Councillor and Chairman of West Midlands Campaign Agent with 138 free market organisations Governors at St. George's Fiona studied at the University of Ben Farrugia across Europe. As well as Secondary School in Maida Vale. representing the TPA in the media, Birmingham and then at Durham Deputy Research Director Andrew currently works as a Partner University before moving back to Susie is responsible for spreading at a leading strategy consulting Ben attended Birmingham University the West Midlands to launch and our message to opinion formers firm. and then the London School of run our first satellite branch, the across the political spectrum. Economics, where he obtained an West Midlands TaxPayers' Alliance MSc in Political Sociology. Ben leads (WMTPA). She is responsible for the TPA's research efforts into running campaigns and generating government institutions, media coverage in this important international development and UK electoral region. regional policy. Dr Lee Rotherham Policy Analyst Katherine Andrew After researching for the ‘Westminster Group of Eight’ Office Manager Eurorebels, Lee advised three successive Shadow Foreign Secretaries, a role part-based in the European Parliament, Katherine studied Politics at York University, before and subsequently worked as Chief of Staff to David joining the TPA as a Research Intern in February 2009. Heathcoat-Amory MP. A seasoned EU expert, Lee has She became the Office Manager in June, providing authored numerous think tank publications and helps the organisational and administrative support to the team. TPA expose the waste and inefficiency of the EU, and its She also assists with key research projects, including mammoth cost to British taxpayers. those tackling waste and inefficiency in the NHS. 4 Grassroots At a national level, our research and media appearances A force to be maintain the TPA’s high profile; but we also have a grassroots West Midlands reckoned with army of 32,000 supporters who campaign alongside us. With more than five times as many Too often individuals, local Residents Associations supporters as when we launched back in and voluntary groups fight tooth and nail against summer 2007, the West Midlands a council plan, tax increase or development and TaxPayers' Alliance is flourishing, with don’t get the publicity or recognition they regular action days around the region and deserve. We’re here offering advice, counsel and some great hits in the local media. From campaign strategies so people can succeed in speaking at business events in Solihull, to protecting their local community from adverse petitioning in Leek, the WMTPA has really political interference. made an impact on the local political scene, Over the last year, as well as campaigning with and now spin-off activist-run branches are local taxpayer organisations, we have teamed up taking shape in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire with key groups to further our mutual causes, and Worcester. protect taxpayers’ money, local services and Testament to our success in the region, the amenities. These include: Birmingham Post asked us to write a piece on the prospect of a government bailout for No to the Bike Save Bathampton Jaguar Landrover, and the Channel 4 Parking Tax Meadows Dispatches programme interviewed the WMTPA about the colossal waste of money at the Public Gallery in West Bromwich. We voice the concerns of taxpayers across the We've already exposed huge amounts of country and campaign on key issues that are profligate public sector spending in the facing communities, in many cases teaming up region and we're now a force to be with a variety of local groups with whom we share reckoned with. common cause. The West London This is not a micro-managed campaign. We don’t Residents Association order people about; we don’t run everything from the centre; we open up opportunities for supporters to campaign for better services and lower taxes at a local level.

www.taxpayersalliance.com Grassroots | A force to be reckoned with 31,981 supporters 5

West Yorkshire Midlands In his first few weeks Russell Booth recruited 547 as Hull and East Riding East new supporters in July 09. Organiser, Andrew Allison, Barbara Lockwood Russell, who has been a is averaging a media hit stalwart campaigner in Leek, continues to protest her every week in July and council tax, achieving Staffordshire, continues to fight August 09. TV and press coverage for lower taxes across the of her days in court West Midlands. June 08.

East Hertfordshire TPA supporters came very close to being appointed to East Hertfordshire Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel in June 09. South West Bristol TPA came forward with a tax cutting budget for their council in February 09. Surrey London Our local activist Peter Webb has been keeping a TPA supporters close eye on taxpayers’ money in demonstrated with Guide Surrey with protests, meetings and Dogs for the Blind and the West media appearances covering London Residents Association to issues such as council profligacy, campaign against the police spending and dangerous, expensive shared town hall bonuses. spaces scheme for Exhibition Road. 2008 Aug 346 media hits 182 new supporters

“The TaxPayers’ Alliance has worked tirelessly to expose waste in the 28 : Basildon petition day. public sector...[they] should be presented with a campaign medal.” - Daily Express Leader

28 : The Burden of Green Taxes 8 : The Case For Abolishing 15 : People in London become the launched. Page 3 model Keeley asks RDAs launched. It’s now Tory rst in the country to get detailed Sun readers: “Why should Britain pay policy to abolish them, as crime maps, an idea recommended over the odds when our energy usage announced in Green Paper 26 : Polly Toynbee accuses in the TPA paper The Cost of Crime. is lower than other countries?” 4 : Sara Rainwater on 17 February 2009. the TaxPayers’ Alliance of starts at the TPA as “pumping out anti-tax Operations Manager. paranoia” in the Guardian. 14 15 16 17 0 31 12 13 18 29 3 10 11 19 20 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 21 22 23 24 25 26

24 : Grassroots co-ordinator Tim Aker meets with local 13 : Birmingham City Council mistakenly put a picture residents associations to explain the bene ts of collaborating of Birmingham Alabama on a recycling lea et. with the TPA to get their message across. 2008

The TPA takes a stand in the Think Tank Zone at Conservative Sept Party Conference, which we 370 media hits used to spread our message, 150 new supporters sign up new supporters and hand out our famous TPA pens. 29 : At Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, George Osborne 10 : Unequal shares, the de nitive guide TPA fringe meeting What Next pledges to freeze council tax and to the Barnett Formula is launched and 19 : Brown calculator for Britain and Europe? Chaired cut Whitehall waste – TPA welcomes turned into a submission to the Calman launched, an internet tool by Andrew Allum, with guest these measures. Commission 3 months later. which has now reached speakers Ruth Lea, Iain Martin, 49,182 users. Martin Boon and Martin Howe.

At a Conservative Friends of Israel event, Michael Gove praises the TPA’s excellent work on Hate Education, saying, “It is certainly 15 : How Cutting Corporation 19 : Gordon Brown’s Economic 4 : It is discovered that an NHS the case the PA has produced Tax would boost revenue Failure shows how Brown’s Trust has hired a Chief Executive at or has allowed to be produced launched, a paper by economic policies have left £900 a day, and all the while NHS textbooks, and the TaxPayers’ the TPA and Conservative Britain more vulnerable than productivity has been falling at Alliance has done a brilliant job Way Forward. our international competitors. 2% per year, both issues tackled in 26 : Susie Squire in exposing this.” Wasting Lives. starts at the TPA. 14 15 16 12 13 17 30 1 2 3 4 11 18 7 28 29 5 6 7 8 9 10 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2

TPA submits evidence to the Commons 10 : Wednesday meeting, with guest speaker Business and Enterprise Committee, Macer Hall, Political Editor of the Daily Express. calling for RDAs to be abolished. “Another scandalous example of how your cash is being wasted 2008 has been unearthed by the excellent TaxPayers’ Alliance” - Fergus Shanahan, Oct The Sun 462 media hits 370 new supporters

30 : TPA - ComRes poll launched, showing that voters blame overspending for recession, and see tax cuts as the way out. 27 : Brussels or Whitehall: Locating the source of the UK’s 9 : The Icelandic banking crash. regulatory burden is launched. After key Icelandic banks fail, it is This is the TPA’s rst major paper revealed that many councils and in partnership with Global Vision. other public bodies stand to lose taxpayers’ money. The TPA takes to the airwaves, and receives record coverage, including all major news networks, prime 8 : Government announces bank time news programmes, national bailout, costing £50 billion. TPA and regional newspapers and 17 : ‘Gra ti wall’ built by responds immediately, voicing radio stations. a council is defaced by a concerns about the exposure gra ti artist who writes ‘I of taxpayers’ cash to great risk. paid my taxes and all Blanket media coverage results. I got was this lousy wall’. 30 : St. Albans petition day.

14 15 16 17 18 19 30 31 2 13 20 21 1 11 1 22 2 29 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3 24 25 26 27 28 28 : The case against an 80 per cent 8 : Wednesday meeting, with 14 : Ministry of Defence loses soldiers’ Mandatory Target for Emissions Cuts guest speaker Dr. Liam Fox, records. TPA hits back against central launched, and is cited by Christopher Chope Shadow Secretary for Defence. Government incompetence. MP in the subsequent parliamentary vote. 2008 Nov 459 media hits 642 new supporters

18 : Conservatives drop commitment 3 : The UK Pensions Crisis to match Labour spending plans, launched, showing that Gordon major victory for the TPA. Brown’s pensions grab has cost pensioners £225 billion. 14 : West Midlands TPA weekly 24 : The third annual Public Sector 28 : Matthew Sinclair is bulletin launches Rich List is launched, showing that promoted to Research the ‘Insider blog’ 387 people in the Public Sector are Director, after his written by an 23 : How inept on more than £150,000. predecessor Corin Taylor activist working regulations and poor moves to the Institute of within a wasteful policy decisions drove Directors. regional quango. the nancial crisis is 24 : Pre Budget Report, TPA launched. same-day response receives 8 : Tynemouth petition day. blanket media coverage. 13 14 15 16 17 18 29 30 11 12 19 20 27 28 1 2 3 9 10 21 22 25 26 4 5 6 7 8 23 24 12 : Wednesday meeting with Lynton Crosby, Australian political strategist who has worked on both John 25 : The TPA reveals that Brown’s 26 : Hammersmith and Fulham 11 : TPA responds to the Howard’s campaign in Australia and Boris Johnson’s borrowing will be double the debt council announce third year of Conservative Tax Plan. mayoral campaign in London, as guest speaker. needed to win World War One. 3% council tax cut. 2008 Dec 407 media hits 163 new supporters

12 : Council Spending Uncovered II No. 1: Publicity is launched, setting out the £430 million that councils are spending on publicity and communications every year.

31 : Annual Non-Job Report 2008 released, showing that despite worsening economic conditions, the public sector continues to hire jobsworths.

29 : Regional Development Agencies: 11 : The EU’s Renewables Policy: O cial Cost Having a Ball at the 2008 Party 12 : Manchester congestion charge is overturned, Estimates to Britain launched. Conferences is launched, showing after energetic campaigning by groups including how the RDAs spent £285,000 the West Midlands TPA. 19 : The TPA exposes the throwing champagne parties. 8 : Bristol TPA branch launched. £5.1 billion tax on Christmas. 14 15 16 28 29 30 31 13 17 26 27 1 11 12 18 19 25 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 21 22 23 24

10 : Wednesday meeting Christmas 17 : Susie Squire gives evidence to the Welsh drinks with David Davis. Assembly’s Independent Review Panel in Llandudno. 2009 Jan 537 media hits 714 new supporters

5: Radio 4’s You and Yours broadcast a special report on TPA, in which Labour MP John Cruddas admits that “many Labour MPs are now very concerned about the TaxPayers’ Alliance.”

29 : Fish demonstration outside EU building. 1 : Dr Lee Rotherham comes back from Afghanistan and 11 : Portland PR carries out focus groups 16 : The TPA reveals that on joins the TPA as EU Policy and polling for Global Vision and the TPA, average, quangos had 27 : Susie Squire gives evidence in Analyst, having previously showing overwhelming demand for radical increased their spending on Cardi to Sir Roger Jones’ Independent worked on The Bumper Book change of our relationship with the EU. communication year on year. Review Panel on how to reform Assembly of Government Waste with Members’ pay and expenses. Matthew Elliott. 9 10 11 7 28 29 30 31 8 12 25 26 2 1 7 13 14 23 24 2 3 4 5 6 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 30 : TPA and Global Vision 23 : Wednesday meeting workshop on fundraising, launch The Price of Fish: 5 : Conservatives announce with guest speakers Patrick Barbour, Simon Costing the Common plan for tax cuts for savers. Richards, Oliver Hylton and Tim Evans. Fisheries Policy. “The very savvy TaxPayers’ 2009 Alliance will train an eagle eye on any examples of public sector pro igacy, and there are bound to be plenty to choose from.” Feb - Ma hew Taylor, former advisor to Tony Blair 411 media hits 650 new supporters

6 : Departmental Use 27 : TPA releases Council Spending of Air Travel is launched. 27 : Government Uncovered II No. 3: Pensions, setting accepts the need for 10 : Polly Toynbee out how local councillors are feathering transparency over calls the TPA ‘rottweilers’ 19 : Shared surface protest in Sloane Square. their nests by taking advantage of Local council director’s pay, a in her Guardian column Government Pensions Scheme. great policy victory for and goes on to say the TPA. that, “[the TPA] is a 2 : An a ordable voice 23 : The TPA reveals phenomenally successful for business: Reforming that many MEPs are 27 : Solihull Residents lobby [at] softening up BERR is launched, becoming millionaires Association joins TPA. the electorate to believe showing that this bloated from their allowances, that what the public Government department and leaks the Galvin sector really needs is is of no tangible bene t to Report, detailing high pruning and squeezing.” business. 18 : Merton council tax protest. level corruption around MEPs expenses. 0 11 12 13 27 28 1 14 15 25 26 1 2 8 9 16 1 23 24 3 4 5 6 7 7 18 19 20 21 22

24 : Information Commissioner rules 11 : Eric Pickles, Shadow Minister 17 : Conservatives produce Green in favour of the TPA in our dispute for Local Government spoke at Paper pledging to scrap RDAs, in with Kent County Council over senior the Wednesday meeting. line with TPA recommendations. executive remuneration transparency. 2009 Mar 657 media hits 4918 new supporters

8 : Paying for the Credit Crunch: Sharing the proceeds of thrift by 31 : Axe the Bike Tax protest. William Norton is launched which is turned into a documentary presented by Sun journalist Jane Moore, Dispatches: How They Squander Our Billions.

18 : Palestinian Hate Education Since 30 : Food for Thought: How the Common 5 : The Great European Annapolis press launch and Hate Agricultural Policy costs families nearly £400 a Rip-O : How the Corrupt, Education event launch in Brussels, year is launched, along with our spoof video Wasteful EU is Taking Control of with pan-European coalition. Our Lives is released. 17 : EU book launch in Brussels. How to Make EU Agricultural Fudge.

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9 : TPA delegation led by Andrew Allum 9 : Liberal Democrats become the third meets Vernon Coaker, Policing Minister to of the three main parties to pledge 27 : Conservatives announce plan to control 28 : Petition on Sloane put case for elected police authorities. transparency in public sector pay. pay for senior sta in public services. Square presented. 2009 Apr 636 media hits 3496 new supporters

22 : Alistair Darling presents the 2009 Budget, announcing record levels of debt and borrowing.

22 : TPA issues its same day budget response, voicing concerns about the debt 6 : The TPA releases Council taxpayers will be saddled 30 : Ben Farrugia with, and the introduction of Spending Uncovered II 14 : Swanage Action Day. 14 : The TaxPayers’ gives evidence on ever more stealth taxes. Broad No 4: Town Hall Rich List Alliance Green Tax Public Sector Pay to 2009, detailing all those 19 : TPA Campaign spectrum media coverage Public Administration 13 : Reforming EU Calculator is launched, in local councils on more Manager Susie Squire is with Edward Welsh, Local Select Committee, Development Assistance which has received than £100,000. The report interviewed by Heather Government Association arguing for restraint launched with an opinion 57,347 hits to date. is covered in all national Brooke on MPs’ expenses Programme Director writing in in public sector piece in the Independent newspapers, including leaders and predicts the coming PR Week that the TPA is now remuneration and newspaper by Matthew in the Independent, the Daily storm in Dispatches: The “running neck-and-neck with greater transparency. Elliott, calling for greater Mail and the Daily Express. Westminster Facebook and Twitter as a transparency. Gravy Train. source of sexy news stories”.

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8 : Fraser Nelson and Daniel Hannan MEP are 23 : West Midlands TPA reveals that the 3 : G20 Communiqué guest speakers at the Wednesday meeting, Advantage West Midlands Annual conference released. discussing: Is it all over for Gordon Brown? 16 : Haywards Heath council tax protest. cost taxpayers £113,600. 2009 May 567 media hits 1236 new supporters

5 : From Thespians to Death Rays: 15 : In the wake of scandalous Funding surprises and potentially criminal expenses from the EU claims by MPs, the TPA launches the grants list is Bring them to Justice campaign, in launched, setting conjunction with the Daily Mail. 4 : Matthew Sinclair speaks out many of the at the Heritage Foundation crazy projects that in Washington, D. C. on receive taxpayers’ increasing transparency of aid money through donations. EU grants. 7 : EU Action Day. The TPA uses revolutionary TPA sta hand street advertising in its Stop 12 : The TPA launches the EU Rip-O campaign. 3 : West Midlands TPA 5 : Response 2 out lea ets and its petition for full exposes the expenses of Route and Save bumper stickers transparency on MPs’ Birmingham City Council’s Bathampton around London, expenses, in conjunction Head of Communications, Meadows encouraging with campaigner Heather 19 : Michael Martin steps down as Speaker of the House. Debra Davis, in campaign people to stop the Brooke, which has received The TPA was among the rst to call for his resignation, and is collaboration with the join TPA. EU rip-o . over 6,000 signatures. praised by Kate Hoey, among others, for being “brilliant”. Sunday Mercury. 9 10 11 12 27 28 29 30 31 7 8 13 4 25 26 6 14 2 23 2 1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2 8 : The Daily Telegraph Matthew Elliott spoke on breaks the MPs’ 13 : Guido Fawkes, Tim Montgomerie growing think tank in uence expenses story, with the and James Forsyth speak at a Wednesday 22 : A TPA/ICM landscape poll shows that at the Koch Foundation in DC. TPA leading reaction. meeting focussed on the rise of blogging. the public are ready for an EU revolt. “The TaxPayers’ Alliance operates as a David against the Goliath 2009 of the state machine. Their latest e orts will enrage the Quangocracy for exposing the self perpetuating, self serving way in Jun which it functions.” - Daily Mail 534 media hits 664 new supporters

The TPA moves o ce to 83 Having settled into his role at the IoD, Corin Taylor Victoria Street, after a kind rejoins the TPA as a Research Fellow, and begins work donation of o ce space on a joint IoD/TPA paper on how to cut public spending. by Avanta Chief Executive David Alberto.

23 : Matthew Elliott and Mark Wallace give evidence to Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life on MPs’ expenses.

David Cameron 15 : The TPA launches praised the TPA 3 : The TPA conducts a its groundbreaking saying, “I think ranking of MEPs showing paper: Solve the that many MEPs, despite the TaxPayers’ Second Homes Crisis, 22 : Speaking volumes: the their sky-high allowances Alliance has arguing that MPs European Commission’s and ne rhetoric, are not never been more 1 : John O’Connell and Katherine Andrew should be housed in Libraries is launched. performing the most basic necessary in our start at the TPA after completing a the Olympic Village. of duties. country”. successful internship.

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Gordon Brown experiences that biggest crisis 10 : Douglas Carswell MP and Ben Leapman of con dence in his premiership, with Cabinet 4 : EU and local from The Daily Telegraph discuss the MPs’ At the Public A airs News Awards Ceremony, the TPA Ministers and other MPs openly rebelling. elections expenses scandal at the Wednesday meeting is shortlisted in the Think Tank of the Year category. 2009 Jul 518 media hits 747 new supporters

13 : TPA research on departmental 27 - 29 : In collaboration use of taxis is released, showing with the Daily Mirror, the TPA that in 2008, 19 Government exposes some of the worst departments spent in excess of £8 examples of quango waste. million on taxis and hired private cars between them.

6 : Sir Roger Jones’ Independent Review Panel reports back, recommending reforms to the AMs’ expenses system. Almost all 6 : A Newsnight quango 22 : TPA Research Director Matthew 28 : The TPA launches Tax and TPA recommendations have been adopted, special uses TPA gures, Sinclair talks to the One Show 14 : Matthew Elliott Entrepreneurship, showing including greater transparency and reforms and features Susie about the level of Government addresses students at that the top marginal rate of to the Additional Cost Allowance. Squire, Mark Wallace and spending on advertising, saying it’s Freedom Week, held at tax is now 92%. Matthew Sinclair talking going beyond public information Cambridge University. and into the realm of propaganda. 6 : David Cameron commits to a on this issue. quango cull, citing TPA research. 10 11 12 13 14 15 30 31 8 9 16 17 18 28 29 6 7 19 20 27 1 2 3 4 5 21 22 23 24 25 26

8 : Dom Cummings, James Frayne and Stephan Shakespeare 11 : Action Day in 29 : In collaboration with the Sun, the TPA reveals speak at the Wednesday meeting, entitled The Westminster Birmingham with that the head of the National Police Improvement crisis: the perfect opportunity for conservative progress? petitioning and lea eting. Authority has claimed £46k on expenses. 18

Policy influence The TPA believes that radical reform of the public sector is “I think the TaxPayers’ Alliance necessary to achieve better services and lower taxes. has never been more necessary Better in our country.” - David Cameron MP An authoritative pamphlet on Better Government Government by Patrick Barbour and Corin Taylor launched a campaign which now plays an important part in the public policy debate. to carry out a detailed audit and rationalisation of Our thesis that Ministers lack the subject public bodies (including abolitions and budget knowledge, management experience or length cuts) echoed TPA demands. In the question and of tenure necessary to effectively improve public answer session, the Leader of the Opposition services was confirmed by Lord Digby Jones and applauded the TPA’s work and praised the Lord Malloch Brown when they left the transparency we have promoted. ‘Government of all the talents’ earlier this year. Elsewhere, we have led calls for the abolition of The Unseen Government of the UK, published in the Regional Development Agencies, using August 2008, confirmed the TPA as the leading government statistics to expose them as nothing authority on quangos, and detailed policy papers more than an expensive mistake. Our research have offered bold alternatives to this was submitted to the House of Commons undemocratic approach to government. The Business and Enterprise Committee, and it is now team have also been vocal in the media. A recent Conservative Party policy to strip the RDAs of BBC Newsnight quango special featured the TPA much of their power, as outlined in their Green heavily, with our research figures widely used and Paper on localism, Control Shift.

three TPA staff filmed to discuss the problem – a huge achievement, and a first for a UK think tank. We have also worked extensively with several national newspapers including the Daily Mirror and The Sun, to expose the profligacy and inefficiency of quangocrats. David Cameron’s speech on quangos in July 2008 prominently quoted TPA research, and his pledge www.taxpayersalliance.com Policy influence | Better Government 19

The bug appears to be catching on elsewhere too – Public sector net borrowing, £ billion, nominal terms Councillors in Bedford have launched a campaign to follow Maidenhead’s example. We will continue to fight hard to change the cavalier attitude of local authorities’ towards our hard-earned cash, and crusade for total transparency. This applies to central government too. The TPA has long advocated the ‘Google your money’ approach to public finances, so all taxpayers can see how their money is being spent by government departments, and decide for themselves if they are getting value for money. We believe that 60 million pairs of eyes is better than those of a few Whitehall mandarins, and the only way we can get true accountability is if taxpayers know where every penny is Sources: Her Majesy’s Treasury, cebr analysis being spent. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has publicly expressed the need for greater transparency and With the public finances in crisis and record levels of The TPA has also been instrumental in encouraging local endorsed this approach. borrowing, the spectre of high taxes and crippling debt councils to be more accountable. Windsor and looms over taxpayers. The TPA has produced numerous Maidenhead Council passed legislation in April 2009 to papers outlining why the current Government’s approach publish all expenditure over £500. Mark Wallace was will lead to a less competitive economy and greater invited to meet with their Cabinet and welcomed this unemployment in the future. Our Pre Budget and Budget major improvement in the relationship between taxpayers responses were produced within hours of Alistair Darling’s and their local council. speech, ensuring that the implications for taxpayers were widely voiced in the media. In our new Public Finance series, Tax and Entrepreneurship explored how the top marginal rate of tax of 92% will deter entrepreneurs and hamper Britain’s recovery. In conjunction with the respected CEBR, who built our “Tax and Entrepreneurship is a must read dynamic tax model for us in 2006, we have also modelled as it fleshes out the cause and unintended the prospects for the British economy if we don’t get the effects of current tax policy on the ‘goose trampoline bounce the Government is predicting. This that lays the golden eggs’ for society - series is the start of a greater focus on economics and fiscal entrepreneurship." – Julie Meyer, policy going forward, as we try to find ways to combat the Chief Executive of Ariadne Capital recession. 20 Policy influence Over the past year the TPA’s campaign for full transparency and reform of MPs’ expenses became front-page news, Transparency increasing pressure for transparency elsewhere.

Proceeding on a number of fronts – including As details of potentially fraudulent claims came extensive grassroots activity, media work to light, and it appeared likely that MPs who may and direct political pressure – the TPA’s have broken the law might escape prosecution, campaign has kept us at the centre of this major the TPA teamed up with the Daily Mail to launch political storm. the Bring Them To Justice campaign. This against MPs if the authorities failed to act. The prepared private prosecutions that could be used We were the first to attack the extravagant TPA has also played a central role in the debate use of expenses by the then Speaker Michael over how Parliament can be rebuilt to restore Martin, with a complaint to the Parliamentary public trust. A detailed written submission to Sir Commissioner for Standards. Our petition calling Christopher Kelly’s enquiry into MP’s expenses for the complete release of the details of all MPs’ was followed by an oral evidence session. In both, expenses – launched with our associate Heather Matthew Elliott put forward a comprehensive set Brooke, whose original Freeom of Information of reforms, including housing MPs in the Olympic requests forced the official release of the details – Village, and laid out why MPs are far from attracted thousands of signatures. underpaid. Late in 2008 and early in 2009, Susie Squire gave evidence to the Welsh Assembly’s Independent Review Panel on AM’s expenses, recommending a move towards full transparency, drastic reforms to the additional costs allowance and an end to the employment of family members. The panel, headed by Sir Roger Jones, released its report Getting it Right for Wales in July 2009, which adopted nearly all of the TPA’s recommendations. The Daily Telegraph’s revelations about MPs’ abuses of allowances and expenses has "I'd like to pay tribute to the encouraged a new transparency across the public TaxPayers' Alliance who've been sector, the central objective of our campaign. brilliant." – Kate Hoey, Labour MP, This trend towards greater transparency is likely on Michael Martin’s resignation. to filter down further, and will play a key part in www.taxpayersalliance.com 21 Policy influence | Transparency “It looks as though the TaxPayers’ Alliance is opening up the public sector to greater now writing Conservative taxpayer scrutiny. For example, this year Party policy.” senior BBC executives have released detailed expense claims for the first time. – The Guardian The MPs’ expenses scandal was merely a glimpse into the culture of profligacy, waste and personal aggrandisement that occurs across the public sector. Nowhere is such workers over £150,000, the Guardian behaviour more evident than local newspaper wrote that “It looks as though government, where despite council tax the TaxPayers’ Alliance is now writing expense claims ballooned. As part of our Conservative Party policy.” doubling in the last decade and little if any annual Council Spending Uncovered series, corresponding improvement in the services we released reports on council spending in The Government itself has taken steps to they provide, salaries have soared and crucial areas such as pensions, middle curb local government excess, drawing up management and executive pay. Our paper laws which would mandate full disclosure on publicity spending highlighted just how of remuneration details. The House of much councils are spending on snazzy Commons too have responded to our advertising and marketing, and this campaign, inviting our Deputy Research years Town Hall Rich List revealed a huge Director Ben Farrugia to give evidence jump in the number of council staff earning before the Public Administration Select over £100,000. Committee’s enquiry into executive pay in the public sector. Ben called for restraint on The series continues to enjoy a strong in remuneration packages and criticised reception in both national and regional the lack of transparency in many public media, including news stories, sector bodies. leaders, opinion pieces and broadcast. But this year As we move forward our campaign will the campaign also won continue to press the case for thorough concrete political success, reform, and take the fight to other public with all parties now pledged sector organisations that don’t respect our to greater public sector right to know how our money is spent. transparency, particularly in By uncovering waste through transparency, the area of pay. Indeed, we will achieve lower taxes. following David Cameron’s announcement that the Conservatives publish the salaries of all public sector 22 Policy influence In the past year the TPA has turned its sights on the huge cost of the European Union to ordinary taxpayers. Our ‘Stop the EU European Rip-Off’ campaign, launched in partnership with Global Vision. Union The campaign is based on solid market research. We also produced a pioneering ranking of the We commissioned Portland PR to undertake a UK’s MEPs, confirming most of our worst series of focus groups so we fully understood the suspicions about how little they do for their concerns people have about the EU. This generous salaries and expenses. It was also the research was then supplemented by polls at key TPA that made public the highly controversial moments of the campaign from ComRes, ICM Galvin Report, an internal EU investigation which and YouGov, which attracted considerable documented the extent to which MEPs have been publicity and debate in Westminster. milking the Brussels cash cow. Some have become millionaires within just a few years of The campaign launched being elected. As well as generating a media with the publication of storm, our research figures have been quoted Matthew Elliott’s The Great widely by MPs, columnists and other participants European Rip-Off. This book in the EU debate, both in the UK and overseas. On the ground, the research has been combined charted some of shocking with an energetic and imaginative campaign. abuses of taxpayers money A series of speaker meetings, protests, videos and by the EU, and established its stunts have successfully raised the profile of these true cost – £2,000 a year issues. Protests linked to specific reports – such as for every man, woman and child. Following the success of the book, TPA research has established that the Common Agricultural Policy is costing British families nearly £400 a year, that the Common Fisheries Policy is now costing us over £2.81 billion a year and that EU funds have been wasted on everything from political spin courses for EU officials (£460,000) to academic programmes to define God (£1.4 million). www.taxpayersalliance.com Policy influence | European Union 23 our ‘For Cods Sake’ rally, which brought conservationist David Bellamy and a substantial pile of fish to the steps of the EU Parliament’s London office – generated considerable public debate. Our “Jamie Oliveoil recipe for EU agriculture fudge” video has now been watched over 20,000 times on YouTube, and a cinema advert is currently being produced to spread the message about the EU’s corruption and waste to an even greater audience. Innovative advertising techniques – such as using high pressure water jets to ‘clean’ our ‘Stop the EU Rip-Off’ message onto urban pavements, or air borne banners above the EU Rip-Off’ bumper and van stickers. starting later in the year, to argue for the M25 – have ensured maximum impact for Through our bold campaigning methods, long-term reform that is needed.” the campaign. Local protests have also we have brought the message home to The EU campaign continues apace. We are brought together our grassroots activists to people at every level of the political debate. already rallying support in the City against get the message out to neighbourhoods There has been positive reaction to the the EU’s proposed financial directives, across the country. campaign from MPs, too. After releasing which seriously endanger the hedge our CAP report, then Europe Minister Since we started our EU work, our reports fund industry. Later in the year we Caroline Flint agreed that “the CAP does have reached millions of people across the will publish an exciting short book not serve the best interests of farmers or country. We have handed out 75,000 EU exploring the opportunities for Britain consumers across Europe. We will use the leaflets and a similar number of ‘Stop the in a new relationship with our fellow opportunity of the EU budget review, European countries.

“The TaxPayers' Alliance is more likely to deliver Eurosceptic change than UKIP.” – Tim Montgomerie, Editor of ConservativeHome 24 Policy influence This has been a fruitful year for the TPA’s campaign against Hate Education, with a number of reports and high profile events driving Hate serious progress in the debate, both in Britain and abroad. Education Two major reports underpin the campaign: the Michael Gove MP has praised the work of the TPA first, Palestinian Hate Education since Annapolis, in exposing Palestinian Hate Education: “It is explored how UK and Western taxpayers’ money certainly the case the PA has produced or has is supporting hate education in the Palestinian allowed to be produced textbooks, which in their We have also taken our message to the USA, Territories, radicalising young Palestinians and detail – the TaxPayers’ Alliance has done a brilliant where our Research Director Matthew Sinclair prolonging the middle east conflict. Working with job in exposing this – in their detail go beyond the spoke at the Heritage Foundation about our sister groups from Germany, Italy, France, Sweden offensive and are just downright evil.” work, arguing that all Western countries had a and Slovakia, the report was launched in six responsibility to ensure their aid was being languages at an event in Brussels, attended by channelled to projects that are conducive to MEPs from key committees and chaired by economic and political development, not Timothy Kirkhope MEP, leader of the Conservative damaging to it. Perhaps the biggest recent group in the European Parliament. The second advance for our campaign was President report, Reforming European Development Obama’s comments in July: Assistance, emphasised the need for greater transparency, scrutiny and accountability in how “[The Palestinians] have to deal EU aid policy is formed, so that scandals such as with incitement issues. It is clear the funding of hate education can be avoided in that senior leaders in Western the future. countries can wake up to the importance of this issue. We just need to make it clear that action is needed, and that Western Liberal Democrat spokesman on international taxpayers’ money cannot development Michael Moore MP said: "No British continue to fund hate education that poisons the aid should fund people who seek to undermine minds of young Palestinians and prolongs conflict in the British, other allies, or the Israeli state." the Middle East.” A spokesman for the Department of International Development said the department would look Going forward, the TPA plans to build up evidence into our report's claims. After our event in the using the Freedom of Information Act to show European Parliament, MEPs from across the how counter-extremism spending in the UK has political spectrum pledged to ask more questions in fact funded radical groups, inciting domestic about where EU funding was allocated and how hatred here in the UK. it was spent. www.taxpayersalliance.com Going forward | Meeting targets, pushing boundaries 25

The past few years have seen unprecedented growth Total number of Supporters Jan 08 to Jul 09 Total numbers of Website Visitors Jan 08 to Jul 09 in all areas of our work at the TPA. In order to achieve our five year mission, we have monthly targets to meet. As you can see from these graphs used by the Board to track our progress, it’s been a busy year! The reason why monitoring these statistics is so important is that these processes drive the policy changes outlined in the previous pages. Supporters (Top left) We wanted to break the 20,000 barrier, have done so, and have seen a big surge in support since the MPs’ expenses saga broke.

Media hits (Bottom left) Total number of Media Hits Jan 08 to Jul 09 Comparative Print Media Statistics The TPA has become a dominant presence across national, regional and broadcast media. Our target in 2008 was to achieve an average of 400 high quality media hits per month. Website (Top right) In March 2009, we passed the 45,000 unique visitors mark, making www.taxpayersalliance.com Britain’s number one think tank or campaign group website. Comparative print media statistics (Bottom right) As the annualised statistics illustrate, compared to organisations with hundreds of staff we punch massively above our weight across the media.

Five Year Mission In the Autumn, we will be launching Big Brother Watch, to fight injustice and to protect personal liberties. Running it will be two experienced To achieve a Britain where individuals have far greater control over their campaigners: Alex Deane, who was David Cameron's first Chief of Staff own lives; where the government only does what civil society cannot do; before becoming a barrister; and Dylan Sharpe, who cut his political and where everyone enjoys better services and lower taxes. teeth on Boris Johnson's successful mayoral campaign. Watch this space!