Monday March 17

Blogs

3.45pm, Burning Our Money
Mike Denham:
Lessons from the Bear

And remember: the lender and guarantor of the last resort is always the taxpayer. It's most unlikely the Crock and the Bear will be the last casualties of the deflating debt balloon, so taxpayers could end up holding A Lot of dodgy assets... - Read More

2.00pm, Campaign
Peter Heaton:
Parish Council empire building

Now they’ve got themselves offices, staff and a van. What next? Some assistant chief executives? Voting to put their expenses up? Or a health and safety officer to oil the wheels of the £400,000 gravy train they are running at our expense... - Read More

1.45pm, Burning Our Money
Mike Denham:
Axing the Beast

If you can't think the unthinkable in opposition, then frankly you haven't got a prayer of doing so once in power... - Read More

10.40am, Better Government
Matthew Sinclair:
What do the public think of politicians as managers?

Topshop, part of Sir Philip Green's empire, is a world-beater - our public services can be too if we set them free of political management... - Read More

10.30am, Better Government
Matthew Sinclair:
Stick to your job

The final result will be a less responsible and well behaved society.  A poor result for undermining shareholder capitalism... - Read More

9.25am, Economics 101
Corin Taylor:
Politician alert! More lunacy from Philip Hammond

So Hammond's answer to the following questions would presumably be: Do you think taxes are too high? "Yes". So will you cut them? "No, well, maybe in 2014". What utter rubbish! - Read More

Media Coverage

- 70,000 families on benefits of £25k

"Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Instead of providing a safety net for those falling on hard times, the welfare state has now strayed into creating a culture of welfare dependency.

“This is a burden on the taxpayer and an appalling situation that many people on benefits find themselves trapped in. It must be changed for the good of all our society." - Full Article

- Darling Gives Us All Road Rage

"Research by the TaxPayers' Alliance also backs up Osborne's claims. It says that over the next two years millions of drivers will face soaring bills as road tax on some popular family models doubles, and that tax on 88 per cent of models will rise. Only 9 per cent of vehicles will benefit from the new system." - Full Article

- MPs told they can claim for kitchen cabinet

"But Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "John Lewis is a fine store, but it is hardly the cheapest place to purchase household goods." - Full Article

Comments

[Calum MacGriogair]

Why are you reported in the papers complaining about Gaelic signs in the Scottish Parliament. As a Gaelic-speaking taxpayer, shouldn't i and the native language of the Scots be represented?

Who voted for you represent me?

[Matthew Sinclair]

That policy is a gimmick that will do little for Gaelic speakers.

There are no exclusively Scots Gaelic speakers so no one is really put out by the lack of Gaelic signs. Given the small size of the Gaelic speaking community and its concentration in the Highlands I doubt that many would even see the signs more than once or twice. As such, there are better things you can do for the Scots Gaelic speaking community.

Even if you do want the signs changed over time for symbolic reasons couldn't this have been done slowly, as the signs have to be replaced due to wear and tear, rather than tearing them all up so shortly after the parliament was built?

[Càilean MacDhònnchaid]

Matthew,

You say "there are better things you can do for the Scots Gaelic speaking community" What specific measures would you suggest?

I have a sneaking suspicion your comments regarding Scotland's languages is just another facet of creeping "Little Englander" sentiment. You appear to be of the impression that only people in England (especially the south-east) pay taxes, and that somehow Scotland must therefore be a "drain" on English taxpayers. It's hard to argue when you consider that public spending per capita is much higher in Greater London than in Scotland. Perhaps we should abandon English language road signs in Whitchapel, as most residents there speak Bengali?

As for your comments regarding the Scots language. To dismiss it simply as "slang" belies your ignorance on the subject. It is the former language of state and officialdom, and is still spoken by some two million people despite constant attempts to eradicate it.

Regards, Càilean.

[victor winston Grana]

Hi Folk.
If you are the defenders of the Taxpayers, that you say you are. Here's an item for you to take up.

Why is it that in Britain, if you need new Lenses, in your Spectacles, you can't have Lenses fitted, to the frames you bought there last year. That's impossible in this Country.
You have to have New Frames , with your New Lenses. I am a Qualified Engineer, and they will not sell you Lenses, to Grind down to fit your Frames.

So How about it Boys. Something for all us elderly Taxpayers. Please.

Yours Sincerely

V. W Grana