TaxPayers’ Alliance
Background
The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) is a UK lobby group that campaigns for low taxes, less government intervention and greater transparency with taxpayer money.
The TPA was founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott, subsequently Chief Executive of the official pro-Brexit campaign Vote Leave, and Andrew Allum, a partner at L.E.K Consulting.1“Our history,” Taxpayers’ Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/z5QfK 2“Matthew Elliott,” Brexit Central. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/83AO9 Alongside climate science denial thinktank the Global Warming Policy Foundation, the TPA is part of the network of libertarian lobby groups and thinktanks based in and around 55 Tufton Street.3“Andrew Allum,” L.E.K. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/jbtRJ 4“Contact us,” TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/8OoGZ Other members of the Tufton Street network include the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), the Adam Smith Institute (ASI), and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).
The TPA claims to have the support of over 90,000 grassroots activists campaigning for public spending cuts, and was described by Atlas CEO Brad Lips as having become “a force of nature in a relatively short amount of time.”5“Our history,” Taxpayers’ Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/z5QfK With close links to senior Conservatives and business leaders, a number of TPA policy recommendations have been taken up, such as reforming stamp duty, cutting beer duty, and cutting public spending.6“Policy victories,” TaxPayer’s Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/EKSyQ 7“Beer Duty,” UK Parliament Hansard Volume 592 (Feb 5, 2015). Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/sxFuS
The group has traditionally opposed government measures to combat climate change, supporting the abolition of the Climate Change Levy, which incentivises businesses to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions, and Air Passenger Duty, the UK‘s only tax on air travel.8“RT if you want the following taxes scrapped: TV Licence Fee Capital Gains Tax Corporation Tax Vehicle Excise Duty Stamp Duty Land Tac Apprenticeship Levy Inheritance Tax Soft Drink Industry Levy Air Passenger Duty Climate Change Levy,” Tweet by @the_tpa, July 23, 2019. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog. The group has also campaigned against increases in fuel duty,9“Annual Review 2019,” TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived June 30, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/XvniK and in favour of fossil fuel exploration, including fracking for shale gas.10David Taylor. “Rishi’s energy cost strategy is proven to fail,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, June 8, 2022. Archived August 23, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/AK0Ai
The TPA previously belonged to an international coalition of anti-tax, free-market campaign groups called the World Taxpayers Associations.11“About us,” World Taxpayers Associations. Archived May 20, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/kE28O Other members have included the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, Americans for Tax Reform, the Austrian Economics Center and the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation. In 2015, it was listed as a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition, a climate science denial organisation run by the US-based Competitive Enterprise Institute, but no longer appears on its website.12“Contributors,” Cooler Heads Coalition. Archived November 27, 2015. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/k9dXa
Politics and Economics Research Trust (PERT)
The TPA has received a significant amount of its funding through a charity called the Politics and Economics Research Trust, founded by Matthew Elliott in 2004. By 2009, PERT had donated more than £500,000 to the TPA and an investigation was launched by the Charity Commission following allegations that PERT was channelling funds tax-free to a political group in possible breach of charity law. The investigation did not find evidence to support the allegation but warned that its reputation risked being damaged “if its relationship with the [TPA] is not properly managed”.13Robert Booth. “Taxpayers’ Alliance receipt of £500,000 donation leads to Charity Commission warning,” Guardian, February 23, 2011. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/GQRB6
In 2015, PERT was found to have given 97 percent of its grants to pro-Brexit groups, principally the TPA and Business for Britain, also founded by Elliott. The TPA received £300,000 from the charity in 2013 alone.14Daniel Boffey. “Charity alleged to have illegally funded Brexit campaign groups,” Guardian, December 12, 2015. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Vr7LO A further Charity Commission investigation was launched which concluded that PERT had failed to put “formal grant agreements in place, and did not have processes to monitor research projects the charity had funded”.15“Case Report: Politics and Economics Research Trust (1121849),” Charity Commission, February 9, 2017. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/PLQng
Stance on Climate Change
October 13, 2023
According to reporting by libertarian news site Guido Fawkes, the TaxPayers’ Alliance included jobs related to climate, net zero, and sustainability in its analysis of “woke” jobs posted by the Welsh government.16“Welsh government spending £9 million on woke jobs,” Guido Fawkes, October 13, 2023. Archived January 23, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.is/HxyHx
Conor Holohan at the TPA told the outlet: “Hard-pressed taxpayers in Wales expect their cash to be focused on key services, not on an in-house team of race and gender campaigners.“
September 20, 2023
Responding to the prime minister’s announcement that he would be rolling back key net zero policies,17Helena Horton. “UK net zero policies: what has Sunak scrapped and what do changes mean?,” The Guardian, September 20, 2023. Archived February 23, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ToLJn John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:18“TaxPayers’ Alliance responds to the prime minister’s announcements on net zero,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, September 20, 2023. Archived December 30, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GM1iH
“Brits will be relieved by these sensible moves to take the heat off household budgets.
“Families and businesses want solutions to the real problem of climate change that go beyond asking them to dig ever deeper into shrinking pockets.
“The prime minister is right to approach this issue with hard-pressed households in mind.”
2010
The TaxPayers’ Alliance Manifesto, published shortly before the 2010 General Election, includes the following recommendation:19“TaxPayers’ Alliance Manifesto” (PDF), TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Abandon the wasteful 2020 renewables targets and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme so that families aren’t hit with big rises in energy bills.”
Funding
The Taxpayers’ Alliance does not disclose its exact funding sources but some details have emerged over the years. In 2018, for example, the Guardian revealed that the group’s US-based fundraising arm had provided it with at least $286,000 from unknown donors between 2013 and 2016. $100,000 of funding had come from a “billionaire-founded religious trust incorporated in the Bahamas”.20Rob Evans, David Pegg, Felicity Lawrence. “Taxpayers’ Alliance received over £223k in foreign donations,” Guardian, November 20, 2018. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/2Rtbc
In 2009, a Guardian investigation found that the Midlands Industrial Council, a longstanding group of wealthy, Brexit-supporting Conservative Party donors, had donated around £80,000 to the group.21Robert Booth. “Who is behind the Taxpayers’ Alliance?” The Guardian, October 9, 2009. Archived March 18, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wip/5rPkf The MIC currently has included Lord Bamford, chair of JCB, and Lord Edmiston, chair of the car importer International Motors.22Christopher Hope, Peter Dominiczak. “Conservative donors prepare to sink £5million into Brexit campaign amid anger about pro-EU leaflet,” Telegraph, April 12, 2016. Archived March 18, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wip/yW4H1
Other donors have included Malcolm McAlpine, director of the construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine, and David Alberto, who founded the serviced offices company Avanta and has provided the group with office space on Tufton Street.23Robert Booth. “Who is behind the Taxpayers’ Alliance?” Guardian, October 9, 2009. Archived March 18, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wip/5rPkf
A joint investigation published by DeSmog and Democracy for Sale revealed that Conservative Party donors had given £6.8 million to Tufton Street think tanks since 2019, £35,000 of which was donated by Conservative Peer Lord Moynihan to the Taxpayers’ Alliance.24Peter Geoghegan, Lucas Amin and Sam Bright. “Tory Donors Have Pumped Almost £7 Million into Tufton Street Since 2019,” DeSmog, June 13, 2024.
As of December 2023, the TPA has received an ‘E’ rating – the lowest possible rating – in openDemocracy’s ‘Who Funds You?’ analysis of Westminster thinktank transparency.25“UK think tanks and campaigns rated for funding transparency,” openDemocracy. Archived March 26, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.is/ezEqI
The Taxpayers’ Alliance financial filings history can be found via Companies House UK.
Key People
Staff & Board
| Name | 2004 | 2005 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Description |
| Mike Denham | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Economist | |||
| Lee Rotherham | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Research Fellow | ||||
| Emma Bennett | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Finance Director | |||||
| John O’Connell | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chief Executive | |||||
| Rory Meakin | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Research Fellow | ||||||||
| Dominique Lazanski | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Last Press Label and GSMA | |||||||
| Mark Wallace | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Research Fellow | ||||||||
| Milly Skriczka | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Development Manager | ||||||||||
| Simon Cook | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Research Fellow | ||||||||||
| Sara Rainwater | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Operations Director | |||||||
| Ben Ramanauskas | Y | Y | Policy Analyst | |||||||||||||
| Chloe Westley | Y | Y | Campaign Manager | |||||||||||||
| Duncan Simpson | Y | Y | Policy Analyst | |||||||||||||
| Harry Fone | Y | Y | Grassroots Campaign Manager | |||||||||||||
| Andrew Allum | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chairman | |
| James Roberts | Y | Political Director | ||||||||||||||
| Jeremy Hutton | Y | Policy Analyst | ||||||||||||||
| Phil Basey | Y | Editorial Director | ||||||||||||||
| Steven Edginton | Y | Digital Campaign Manager | ||||||||||||||
| Alex Wild | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Research Director | |||||||||
| James Price | Y | Y | Campaign Manager | |||||||||||||
| Jan Zeber | Y | Y | Policy Analyst | |||||||||||||
| Theo Hutchinson | Y | Policy Analyst | ||||||||||||||
| Harry Davis | Y | Y | Campaign Manager (Communications) | |||||||||||||
| Meg Hanks | Y | Operations Manager | ||||||||||||||
| Shahmir Sanni | Y | Campaign Manager (Digital) | ||||||||||||||
| Jonathan Isaby | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chief Executive | ||||||||||
| Lee Canning | Y | Y | Y | Y | Wales Coordinator | |||||||||||
| Dia Chakravarty | Y | Y | Y | Political Director | ||||||||||||
| Harry Fairhead | Y | Y | Policy Analyst | |||||||||||||
| Jordan Devi Taylor | Y | Y | Campaign Manager (Digital) | |||||||||||||
| Katherine Gray | Y | Y | Operations Manager | |||||||||||||
| Jennifer Salisbury Jones | Y | Policy Analyst | ||||||||||||||
| Matthew Elliott | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Founder | |||||
| Tim Newark | Y | Y | Y | Bath & South West Coordinator | ||||||||||||
| Andy Silvester | Y | Campaign Manager (Communications) | ||||||||||||||
| Sonia Khan | Y | Campaign Manager (Grassroots) | ||||||||||||||
| Matthew Sinclair | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chief Executive | ||||||||
| Andrew Allison | Y | Y | Y | National Grassroots Coordinator | ||||||||||||
| Robert Oxley | Y | Y | Campaign Manager | |||||||||||||
| Eleanor Mc Grath | Y | Campaign Manager | ||||||||||||||
| Henry Zarb | Y | Islington Coordinator | ||||||||||||||
| Emma Boon | Y | Y | Y | Campaign Director | ||||||||||||
| Chris Daniel | Y | Y | Policy Analyst | |||||||||||||
| Maria Fort | Y | Y | Scheduling and Outreach Director | |||||||||||||
| Florence Heath | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Co-Founder | |||||||||
| Sara Rainwater-Lane | Y | Operations Director | ||||||||||||||
| Fiona McEvoy | Y | Y | Y | Y | West Midlands Campaign Agent | |||||||||||
| Jennifer Dunn | Y | Policy Analyst, Transport and the Environment | ||||||||||||||
| Tim Aker | Y | Y | Y | Grassroots Coordinator | ||||||||||||
| Ben Farrugia | Y | Y | Policy Analyst, Public Services | |||||||||||||
| Susie Squire | Y | Campaign Manager | ||||||||||||||
| Eben Wilson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Managing Director, Main Communications Ltd | |||||||||||
| Saul Rowe | Y | Y | Y | Y | Volunteer | |||||||||||
| Corin Taylor | Y | Y | Research Director | |||||||||||||
| Neil Booth | Y | Y | Graphic design |
Advisory Council
| Name | 2005 | 2008 | 2010 | 2019 | Description |
| David B. Smith | Y | Y | Y | Y | Economist and Author |
| Eamonn Butler | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of the Adam Smith Institute |
| James Tooley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Professor of Education Policy at Newcastle University |
| Kevin Dowd | Y | Y | Y | Y | Professor of Finance and Economics at the Durham University Business School |
| Patrick Minford | Y | Y | Y | Y | Professor of Applied Economics at the Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University |
| Ruth Lea | Y | Y | Y | Y | Economic Adviser at Arbuthnot Banking Group |
| Stephen Davies | Y | Y | Y | Y | Head of Education at the Institute of Economic Affairs |
| Tim Congdon | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Dominique Lazanski | Y | Last Press Label and GSMA | |||
| Emma Dean | Y | Political consultant | |||
| James Bartholomew | Y | Journalist & Author of The Welfare State We’re In and The Welfare of Nations; director of the Museum of Communist Terror | |||
| Jordan Williams | Y | Executive Director of the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union | |||
| Mike Denham | Y | Economist | |||
| Stephen Herring | Y | Head of Taxation at the Institute of Directors | |||
| Tim Andrews | Y | Executive Director of the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance | |||
| Troy Lanigan | Y | President and CEO of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation | |||
| Charles Hanson | Y | Y | Y | Economic Consultant | |
| Dennis O’Keeffe | Y | Y | Y | Formerly University of Buckingham (now deceased) | |
| Elaine Sternberg | Y | Y | Y | University of Leeds | |
| Gabriel Stein | Y | Y | Y | Lombard Street Research | |
| John Blundell | Y | Y | Y | Distinguished Senior Fellow, Institute of Economic Affairs | |
| Keith Boyfield | Y | Y | Y | Keith Boyfield Associates | |
| Keith Marsden | Y | Y | Y | Economic Consultant, United Nations | |
| Kenneth Minogue | Y | Y | Y | London School of Economics | |
| Madsen Pirie | Y | Y | Y | Adam Smith Institute | |
| Michael Mosbacher | Y | Y | Y | Social Affairs Unit | |
| Helen Evans | Y | Director, Nurses for Reform | |||
| Tim Evans | Y | Former President, Libertarian Alliance | |||
| Alan Walters | Y | Y | |||
| Norman Barry | Y | Y | Formerly University of Buckingham (now deceased) | ||
| James Sproule | Y | Head of Research, Augusta & Co. plc |
Business Supporters
According to an archive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance website, between November 2004 and December 2005, “just under 150 businessmen and opinion formers signed two TaxPayers’ Alliance letters to the Financial Times, and to the Daily Telegraph. The Financial Times letter concluded that Britain “cannot afford not to cut taxes – and to discipline spending growth accordingly”:26“The TaxPayers’ Alliance – About,” The TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived April 4, 2008. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/mPEm3
| Name | Description |
| A.R. Tanner | Chairman, Tanners Wines Ltd |
| Adam Afriyie | |
| Alistair Craig | CPS Research Fellow |
| Allen Sykes | Former MD, Consolidated Gold Fields |
| Andrew Allum | Chairman |
| Andrew Langley | Managing Director, Juniper Products Ltd |
| Andrew Roberts | Historian |
| Anthony Coombs | Group Managing Director, S&U Plc |
| Anthony de Normann | Managing Director, Aldenham Ltd |
| Anthony Fuller | Chairman, Fuller Smith and Turner Plc |
| Anthony Good | Chairman, Cox & Kings |
| Ashley Unitt | Chief Technical Officer , NewVoiceMedia Ltd |
| Benjamin Slade | Chairman, Shilstar Holdings |
| Brian Goswell | Chairman, ISS Group Plc |
| Brian Pettifer | Chairman and Chief Executive, Pettifer Group Ltd |
| Cameron Buchanan | Managing Director, Harrisons of Edinburgh Ltd |
| Charles Cameron | Managing Director, Jefferies International Ltd |
| Chris Kelly | Chairman, Keltruck Ltd |
| Chris Woodhead | Former HM Chief Inspector of Schools |
| Christopher Foyle | Chairman, Air Foyle Ltd |
| Christopher Shale | Chief Executive, Oxford Resources |
| Constantine Folkes | Chairman and Chief Executive, Folkes Holdings Ltd |
| Damon de Laszlo | Chairman, Economic Research Council |
| Dan Lewis | Director of Environmental Affairs, Stockholm Network |
| David Briggs | Managing Director, Dawson Music |
| David Harvey | Chairman, Small Business Council, Centre for Policy Studies |
| David Myddelton | Cranfield School of Management |
| David Newlands | Chairman, Tomkins Plc |
| David Ord | Managing Director, The Bristol Port Company Ltd |
| David Shaw | Chairman, Sabrelance Corporate Partners Ltd |
| David Soskin | Chief Executive Officer, cheapflights.co.uk |
| Don Hanson | Chairman, Eiger Capital Ltd |
| Eben Wilson | Managing Director, Main Communications Ltd |
| Edgar Miller | Managing Director, Palladian Ltd |
| Edmund Gartside | Chairman, Shiloh Plc |
| Elaine Sternberg | University of Leeds |
| Eric Nichols | |
| G Grimstone | Chairman, Grimstone Foundation |
| G H C Wakefield | Former Chairman of J & H Marsh & McLennan |
| Gabriel Stein | Lombard Street Research |
| Gary Mond | Managing Director, Redcliffe Training Associates Ltd |
| Gary Ramsey | Director, Jefferson Engineering Ltd |
| George Guise | Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, 1986-90 |
| Gerald Frost | Editor, eurofacts |
| Gerald Kaye | Development Director, Helical Bar Plc |
| Gerard Lyons | City Economist |
| Giles Shepard | Chairman, Searcy Tansley & Co. Ltd |
| Graeme Leach | Chief Economist, Institute of Directors |
| Grahame Berkeley | Chairman, Berkeley Burke Holdings Ltd |
| Henry Angest | Chairman and CEO, Arbuthnot Banking Group plc |
| Howard Flight | Director, Investec Asset Management Ltd |
| Hugh Trevor-Jones | Chairman, Lowe & Fletcher Ltd |
| Iain Breese | Chairman, Westler Foods Ltd |
| Ian Milne | Director, Global Britain |
| James Sproule | Head of Research, Augusta & Co. plc |
| Jamie Borwick | Chairman, Modec Ltd |
| Jeremy Bradshaw | Managing Director, Gryphon Partners Ltd |
| Jill Kirby | Chair, Full Time Mothers |
| John Blundell | Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs |
| John Craven | Chairman, Lonmin Plc |
| John Dembitz | Chairman, Dembitz & Associates |
| John Hickman | Chairman, Kingston Estates Ltd |
| John Littlewood | Former Group Director, S G Warburg |
| John Marks | Director, Educational Research Trust |
| John Taylor | Chairman Taylors Bulbs |
| John W Leavesley | Director, The Leavesley Group |
| John Wilford | Managing Director, Rave Communications Ltd |
| Jonathan Bass | Managing Director, Incentivated Ltd |
| Jonathan Hodge | Managing Director, Carlyle Trust |
| Keith Boyfield | Keith Boyfield Associates |
| Keith Hodgkinson | Chief Executive, Chloride |
| Keith Marsden | Economic Consultant, United Nations |
| Kenneth Minogue | London School of Economics |
| Kim Jaberi | Chairman and Managing Director, Karins Group of Companies |
| Kit Hunter Gordon | Managing Director, The Summit Group Ltd |
| Laurence Wilshere | Managing Director, Quansboro Plastics Ltd |
| Lord Blackwell | President, Blackwell Ltd |
| Lord Chadlington | Group Chief Executive, Huntsworth Plc |
| Lord Derwent | Deputy Chairman, Hutchison Whampoa (Europe) Ltd |
| Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts | Chairman, Nova Capital Management |
| Lord Kalms | President, DSG International plc |
| Lord Pearson of Rannoch | Chairman , PWS Holdings Ltd |
| Lord Salisbury | |
| Lord Vinson | Director, Fleming High Income Growth Trust plc |
| Malcolm H.D. McAlpine | Director, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd |
| Malcolm Scott | Chairman , Dunalastair Estates |
| Margot James | European President, Ogilvy Healthworld UK Ltd |
| Mark Nicholson | Associate Director, Fitch Ratings |
| Mark Weinberg | President, St James Place Capital Plc |
| Martin McElwee | Head of Research, Bow Group |
| Matthew Elliott | Founder |
| Michael Ames | Chairman, Crimson Ltd |
| Michael Bett | Chairman, Micro Technology Plc |
| Michael Brent | Managing Director, Trimite Ltd |
| Michael Cobham | President, Cobham Aerospace |
| Michael Craig-Cooper | Former Director, National Bank of Kuwait |
| Michael Heller | Chairman, London & Associated Properties Plc |
| Michael Mander | Former Chairman, Institute of Directors |
| Michael Miller | Managing Director, Harris & Sheldon Group Ltd |
| Michael Webster | Director, Gorkana Ltd |
| Mike Killingley | Chairman, Beale plc |
| Neville Baxter | Chairman, RH Freight Ltd |
| Nicholas Finney | Chairman, Waterfront Partnership |
| Nick Markham | Chief Operating Officer, Top Up TV Ltd |
| Nick Seaton | Chairman, Campaign for Real Education |
| Nigel Mobbs | Chairman, Slough Estates Plc |
| Oliver Wright | Former Ambassador in Washington |
| Patrick Barbour | Non Executive Director, Microgen plc |
| Patrick Evershed | Chairman, New Star Fund Managers |
| Patrick Minford | Professor of Applied Economics at the Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University |
| Paul Carter | Managing Director, Expocentric Ltd |
| Paul Weeks | Managing Director, Wicken Fen Foods |
| Peter Baker | The Front Bench Club |
| Peter Grant | Non Executive Director, Cadogan Estates Ltd |
| Peter K Hargreaves | CEO, Hargreaves Lansdown Plc |
| Peter Knight | Chairman, Phoenix plc |
| Peter Linacre | Chairman, Massive Ltd |
| Peter Morgan | Former Director-General, Institute of Directors |
| Peter Shirley | Managing Director, Midland Chilled Foods Ltd |
| Robert Diamond | Chief Executive, Diametric Ltd |
| Robert Wickham | Senior Partner, Ibbett, Moseley Group |
| Robin Clark | Chairman Taylor Clark Plc |
| Rocco Forte | Chairman, Rocco Forte Hotels |
| Roger Scruton | Philosopher |
| Ronald Grierson | Former Vice Chairman, GEG |
| Ronald Halstead | President, Engineering Industries Assocation |
| Rupert Hambro | Chairman, J O Hambro Ltd |
| Ruth Lea | Economic Adviser at Arbuthnot Banking Group |
| Sara Pearson | Chief Executive, The SPA Way Ltd |
| Saul Haydon Rowe | Principal, Devon Capital LLP |
| Sean O’Brien | Chairman, Telstar Music Group Ltd |
| Simon Camamile | European Director, Jones LaSalle |
| Simon Hill | Chief Executive, Letterstone plc |
| Stephen Catlin | Chief Executive, Catlin Underwriting Agencies Limited |
| Stuart Lyons | Chairman, The Wensum Company Plc |
| Stuart Wheeler | Chairman, IG Group Plc |
| Tim Congdon | |
| Tim Ingram | Chief Executive, Caledonia Investments |
| Toby Baxendale | Chairman and CEO, Seafood Holdings Ltd |
| Tom Cowie | Life President, Arriva plc |
| Victoria Mitchell | Consultant Director, Savills Plc |
| W T J Griffin | Former Chairman, GT Management Plc |
| Walter Eltis | Emeritus Fellow, Exeter College |
| William Hargreaves | Joint Managing Director, Sisis Equipment |
| William S James | LCF Rothschild Securities Ltd |
| Anthony Bamford | Chairman, J C Bamford Excavators Ltd |
| Keith C. Miles |
Actions
December 1, 2023
In a post for CapX, a blog run by the Centre for Policy Studies, TPA researcher Tom Ryan argued that “the hysterical rhetoric of UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres and alarming reports about demands for less meat-eating show that COP28 is unlikely to offer real solutions”.27Tom Ryan. “Fair COP? Or will the latest climate summit be another festival of eco-extremism,” CapX, December 1, 2023. Archived December 8, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/F8DGi
He added:
“Some politicians might trick themselves into believing that enforcing privations on the British people will win them points abroad and enhance our global green credentials. But not only is this unlikely to convince anyone, considerable progress can be made on environmental goals without any punishing bans or new taxes.”
November 21, 2022
A TPA analysis of UK councils’ spending found that local authorities had spent £480,000 of public money on flights and hotels since 2019. Councillors and staff had “jetted off on jaunts including to countries as far away as Japan, China and Cuba with hundreds more flying to France, Belgium and Germany”, according to the Daily Mail.28Martin Beckford. “UK councils rack up TWO MILLION air miles and a bill of almost £500,000 for flights and hotels while lecturing taxpayers about climate change,” Daily Mail, November 21, 2022. Archived December 30, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/WailP
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, told the paper: “Taxpayers will be furious at the foreign jollies they’ve been helping to fund. While councils hike up rates and lecture residents about a climate emergency, bureaucrats are sent on luxury trips round the world.” If officials can’t keep costs down they should be sent packing.'”
February 4, 2021
John O’Connell, Chief Executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, was quoted in The Daily Mail criticising reported new carbon taxes on meat, cheese and gas heating as part of the government’s pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He said: “New eco taxes would leave slim pickings for struggling families, who rely on cheap energy and food to heat their homes and put dinner on the table,” adding: “Ministers must ease the burden on Brits before any green tax hikes.”29Martin Robinson. “Tax raid on your lifestyle! Boris Johnson is considering a new carbon tax that could see the price of mince rise 40% to more than £5, four pints of milk by 21% to £1.32 and push up the cost of gas heating,” The Daily Mail, February 4, 2021. Archived February 8, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/bZnTR
The article also quoted a spokesperson from agribusiness lobbying group the National Beef Association, who claimed that “Britain’s meat industry is given a lot of unfair criticism over its environmental impact.”
March 18, 2020
In a blog post titled “Why a carbon tax would be bad for Britain,” Sam Packer, the TPA’s media campaign manager wrote:30Sam Packer. “Why a carbon tax would be bad for Britain,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, March 18, 2020. Archived July 8, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/OdUIb
“The fact remains that the free market is the only feasible means of reducing carbon emissions. The magic of the market is that it adapts to what consumers want. As the public in the west has grown more wary of pollution, it has dropped drastically. The incredible tale of human development in the past two centuries is one in which consumer capitalism is the main character. Reductions in carbon usage is the next chapter, provided governments do not curtail these efforts with excessive interference.”
January 19, 2020
Taxpayers’ Alliance research director Duncan Simpson was quoted in a Sunday Times article on EU car emissions regulations. The article, which cited criticism from car manufacturer Volkswagen that the rules would lead to the demise of small, petrol-powered cars, quoted Simpson as saying: “It is a plainly unfair system that sees better-off electric vehicle owners getting a series of cross-subsidisations.”31Nick Rufford. “Electric vehicles: Small petrol cars set to vanish from Britain,” Sunday Times, January 19, 2020. Archived January 23, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.md/CGJ6t
April 2018
In an article for CapX, an analyst for the TaxPayers’ Alliance dismissed fossil fuel divestment as harmful to the taxpayer and ineffective. Jan Zeber.32“Divesting from oil companies is pointless posturing,” CAPX, April 23, 2018. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/LPJqM 33“Opinion: Divestment is Not Just ‘Pointless Posturing’, It Will Save Taxpayers Cash,” DeSmog, April 30, 2018.
April 2017
The TaxPayers’ Alliance signed a letter published in The Telegraph calling for the removal of renewable energy subsidies by 2020 and the expansion of the shale gas industry, alongside other right wing think tanks also located in 55 Tufton Street.34Kyla Mandel. “Brexit Climate Deniers Launch Coordinated Attack Against Green Regulations Ahead of Election,” DeSmog, May 1, 2017.
October 2016
The TaxPayers’ Alliance attends the Conservative Party Conference, co-hosting a fringe event with American climate science denying pressure groups the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and the Heritage Foundation.35Victoria Seabrook. “Climate Science Denying US Neocon Groups Promote ‘Simple’ and ‘Freer’ Trade with UK at Tory Party Conference,” DeSmog, October 5, 2016.
The event was aimed at promoting a new and ‘freer’ trade deal between the UK and US once the UK has left the European Union, and hints at what the groups may lobby the British government for in the future.
August 2011
TaxPayers’ Alliance director Matthew Sinclair published the book Let Them Eat Carbon, claiming that climate policies in the UK are inefficient, and that money for such policies only funds special interests.36“Let Them Eat Carbon,” Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2011. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/dwCoq
Related Organisations
Early versions of the TaxPayers’ Alliance website described it as an “’umbrella group’ to a number of like minded organisations committed to lower taxes.” In 2008, those groups included Isitfair, Surrey Tax Action Group, Tax Relief, the Association for British Drivers, and Bruges Group.37“Alliance Members,” The Taxpayers’ Alliance. Archived March 28, 2008. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/vksTN
| Member | 2006 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Avanta (Supporter) | Y | |||
| Harrow Council Tax Campaign | Y | Y | Y | |
| Is It Fair | Y | Y | Y | |
| NewbridgeMatters | Y | |||
| Response2Route | Y | |||
| Save Bathampton Meadows | Y | |||
| Tax Relief | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| TaxpayerUK | Y | |||
| The Association for British Drivers | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| The Bruges Group | Y | Y | ||
| The Drivers’ Alliance | Y | Y | ||
| The No to the Bike Parking Tax Campaign | Y | Y | ||
| The Solihull Ratepayers Association | Y | Y | ||
| The Surrey Tax Action Group (STAG) | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Traveltax | Y |
TaxPayers’ Alliance shares an address with a range of think tanks occupying 55 Tufton Street. Resident groups include or have included:
- The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF)
- Civitas
- Business for Britain
- Vote Leave
- The European Foundation
- UK2020
- The New Culture Forum
Contact & Address38“Contact us,” TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/8OoGZ
TaxPayers’ Alliance
55 Tufton St
London
SW1P 3QLTel: 020 7998 1450
Media: 07795 084 113
Social Media
Resources
- 1“Our history,” Taxpayers’ Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/z5QfK
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- 3
- 4
- 5“Our history,” Taxpayers’ Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/z5QfK
- 6“Policy victories,” TaxPayer’s Alliance. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/EKSyQ
- 7“Beer Duty,” UK Parliament Hansard Volume 592 (Feb 5, 2015). Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/sxFuS
- 8“RT if you want the following taxes scrapped: TV Licence Fee Capital Gains Tax Corporation Tax Vehicle Excise Duty Stamp Duty Land Tac Apprenticeship Levy Inheritance Tax Soft Drink Industry Levy Air Passenger Duty Climate Change Levy,” Tweet by @the_tpa, July 23, 2019. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 9“Annual Review 2019,” TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived June 30, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/XvniK
- 10David Taylor. “Rishi’s energy cost strategy is proven to fail,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, June 8, 2022. Archived August 23, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/AK0Ai
- 11“About us,” World Taxpayers Associations. Archived May 20, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/kE28O
- 12“Contributors,” Cooler Heads Coalition. Archived November 27, 2015. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/k9dXa
- 13Robert Booth. “Taxpayers’ Alliance receipt of £500,000 donation leads to Charity Commission warning,” Guardian, February 23, 2011. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/GQRB6
- 14Daniel Boffey. “Charity alleged to have illegally funded Brexit campaign groups,” Guardian, December 12, 2015. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Vr7LO
- 15“Case Report: Politics and Economics Research Trust (1121849),” Charity Commission, February 9, 2017. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/PLQng
- 16“Welsh government spending £9 million on woke jobs,” Guido Fawkes, October 13, 2023. Archived January 23, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.is/HxyHx
- 17Helena Horton. “UK net zero policies: what has Sunak scrapped and what do changes mean?,” The Guardian, September 20, 2023. Archived February 23, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ToLJn
- 18“TaxPayers’ Alliance responds to the prime minister’s announcements on net zero,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, September 20, 2023. Archived December 30, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GM1iH
- 19“TaxPayers’ Alliance Manifesto” (PDF), TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 20Rob Evans, David Pegg, Felicity Lawrence. “Taxpayers’ Alliance received over £223k in foreign donations,” Guardian, November 20, 2018. Archived October 22, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/2Rtbc
- 21Robert Booth. “Who is behind the Taxpayers’ Alliance?” The Guardian, October 9, 2009. Archived March 18, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wip/5rPkf
- 22Christopher Hope, Peter Dominiczak. “Conservative donors prepare to sink £5million into Brexit campaign amid anger about pro-EU leaflet,” Telegraph, April 12, 2016. Archived March 18, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wip/yW4H1
- 23Robert Booth. “Who is behind the Taxpayers’ Alliance?” Guardian, October 9, 2009. Archived March 18, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wip/5rPkf
- 24Peter Geoghegan, Lucas Amin and Sam Bright. “Tory Donors Have Pumped Almost £7 Million into Tufton Street Since 2019,” DeSmog, June 13, 2024.
- 25“UK think tanks and campaigns rated for funding transparency,” openDemocracy. Archived March 26, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.is/ezEqI
- 26“The TaxPayers’ Alliance – About,” The TaxPayers’ Alliance. Archived April 4, 2008. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/mPEm3
- 27Tom Ryan. “Fair COP? Or will the latest climate summit be another festival of eco-extremism,” CapX, December 1, 2023. Archived December 8, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/F8DGi
- 28Martin Beckford. “UK councils rack up TWO MILLION air miles and a bill of almost £500,000 for flights and hotels while lecturing taxpayers about climate change,” Daily Mail, November 21, 2022. Archived December 30, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/WailP
- 29Martin Robinson. “Tax raid on your lifestyle! Boris Johnson is considering a new carbon tax that could see the price of mince rise 40% to more than £5, four pints of milk by 21% to £1.32 and push up the cost of gas heating,” The Daily Mail, February 4, 2021. Archived February 8, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/bZnTR
- 30Sam Packer. “Why a carbon tax would be bad for Britain,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, March 18, 2020. Archived July 8, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/OdUIb
- 31Nick Rufford. “Electric vehicles: Small petrol cars set to vanish from Britain,” Sunday Times, January 19, 2020. Archived January 23, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.md/CGJ6t
- 32“Divesting from oil companies is pointless posturing,” CAPX, April 23, 2018. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/LPJqM
- 33“Opinion: Divestment is Not Just ‘Pointless Posturing’, It Will Save Taxpayers Cash,” DeSmog, April 30, 2018.
- 34Kyla Mandel. “Brexit Climate Deniers Launch Coordinated Attack Against Green Regulations Ahead of Election,” DeSmog, May 1, 2017.
- 35Victoria Seabrook. “Climate Science Denying US Neocon Groups Promote ‘Simple’ and ‘Freer’ Trade with UK at Tory Party Conference,” DeSmog, October 5, 2016.
- 36“Let Them Eat Carbon,” Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2011. Archived January 18, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/dwCoq
- 37“Alliance Members,” The Taxpayers’ Alliance. Archived March 28, 2008. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/vksTN
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