Abolish Council Tax, Scrap Business Rates and Tax Land Instead London, 27 July 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) today called for what it describes as Britain's biggest tax cut for ordinary households and businesses, centred on replacing Council Tax, Stamp Duty and Business Rates with a modern system of Land Value Tax. TAP believes the debate around tax reform has been dominated by the wrong question. Instead of asking, "How do we raise more tax?", Britain should be aski

TAP welcomes signs of a bold new agenda but warns that lasting reform will require courage, public support and resistance to vested interests London, 20 July 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) today said the appointment of a new Prime Minister offers Britain a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the country's economic and social future but warned that meaningful reform will only succeed if the Government remains bold in the face of inevitable opposition. The o

By Tom Burgess, CEO Taxpayers Against Poverty July 2026 For many people, summer is a time to slow down. Airports are full. Motorways are busy. Families are looking forward to time together, sunshine and a well-earned break after another busy year. And they deserve it. But for millions of families across Britain, summer tells a very different story. While some are packing suitcases, others are wondering how they will afford to fill the fridge. While some children count d

London, 7 July 2026 –The Living Wage Foundation has honoured Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) founder late Rev Paul Nicolson, with its 2026 In Memoriam Award, recognising his lifetime of service to social justice and his pioneering contribution to the Living Wage movement. The award recognises Rev Nicolson as "a tireless campaigner for social justice and one of the founding figures behind the Living Wage movement." It highlights his decades of advocacy, including the founding

London, 2 July 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) has welcomed today's unanimous UK Supreme Court judgment against BlueCrest Capital Management, describing it as a significant victory for tax fairness and a reminder that everyone should contribute to society under the same rules. The ruling confirms that investment managers and LLP members who receive fixed remuneration, have no meaningful management role and operate in practice like employees should be taxed as employees

London, 29 June 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) has welcomed today's speech by Andy Burnham, describing it as an encouraging step towards the kind of bold, long-term thinking Britain urgently needs. The organisation said many of the themes outlined in the speech closely reflect proposals that TAP has been advocating for several years, including greater devolution, investment in infrastructure, building more homes, creating stronger regional economies and developing a m

By Sylvie Rouhani, Deputy Editor, Taxpayers Against Poverty – June 2026 After years of pressure to deliver, with much lower funding than ever before, increasing saving demands and more cuts on the horizon, the NHS is facing its biggest challenges yet which, in turn, as a negative impact on UK citizens. Decades of underfunding and ambitious saving targets over care Before Covid 19 and its subsequent challenges, the NHS was already under pressure as a result of the financial cr

London, 23 June 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Alan Murdie, one of the UK's leading experts on Council Tax law, to its Advisory Board. Alan has spent many years advising households, charities and organisations on Council Tax legislation, exemptions and reform. Alan Murdie (LLB) is a barrister, is a lawyer, consultant and author, specialising in debt, local taxation and welfare, wills and succession, and copyright. He was co-

London, 22 June 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) has welcomed the prospect of a new Prime Minister, saying it represents an opportunity to reset the national conversation and deliver the bold leadership, clear vision and practical policies needed to tackle Britain's affordability crisis. TAP believes that the new leader must move beyond short-term political management and present a connected programme of reform that directly improves the lives of ordinary people. For to

Media comment from TAP 19 June 2026 Andy Burnham has backed a pledge committing politicians to prioritising poverty prevention, following his election as MP for Makerfield. The pledge—organised by Taxpayers Against Poverty and already supported by nearly 30 MPs, with more signing each week—states: "I pledge to prioritise policies preventing poverty and inequality, acting with integrity, respect, and compassion in Parliament and my constituency." Tom Burgess, economist and

A Guide for a Future Prime Minister Introduction Leadership is not about power. It is about trust. People do not follow leaders because they have a title. They follow leaders because they believe the leader understands them, shares their values, and can take them somewhere better. The task of a Prime Minister is not merely to manage government. It is to provide direction, unite competing interests, make difficult decisions, and maintain public trust through success and fail

By Tom Burgess 16 June 2026 The next Labour leader may inherit one of the most difficult political landscapes in modern British history. Living standards have stagnated. Housing is increasingly unaffordable. Public services are under strain. Trust in politics is fragile. Too many people feel that despite working hard and doing the right thing, they are falling behind. The temptation for any new leader will be to announce a series of attractive policies aimed at fixing individ

New umbrella organisation will bring together campaigning, policy, media and public engagement to build a stronger, fairer and more compassionate Britain London, 11 June 2026 — Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) today announced that its parent company has officially changed its name from TAP Ltd to Real Agenda Limited (RAL) marking an important new chapter in the organisation's development. The change reflects an expanded vision to create a collaborative platform that brings tog

London, 2 June 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Goodman to its Advisory Board. Helen brings extensive experience from both Parliament and government, having served as Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland from 2005 to 2019 and as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, with responsibility for child poverty and childcare. In her position, she oversaw the passage of the Child Pove

London, 25 May 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) has welcomed recent comments from potential future Labour leadership contenders suggesting a growing willingness to discuss bolder economic reform, including fairer taxation of wealth. TAP noted that both Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham have raised the issue of taxing wealth more fairly as part of the wider national debate around economic reform, inequality, and living standards. TAP said this reflects a growing recognition

By Tom Burgess, CEO, Taxpayers Against Poverty 15 May 2026 Britain feels increasingly stuck. Millions of people are working harder while feeling less secure. Housing costs remain painfully high. Public services are under pressure. Inequality continues to widen. And many people feel politics no longer offers a serious long-term vision for improving the country. At Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP), we believe the central challenge facing Britain is no longer whether change is ne

11 May 2026 My fellow citizens, For too long, politics in Britain has been dominated by caution, short-term thinking, and the management of decline. People have worked harder, worried more, and felt less secure. Millions of families who do everything right still struggle with housing costs, taxation, financial pressure, and a growing sense that the country no longer works for ordinary people. Tonight, I want to speak honestly: Britain cannot build a stronger future while so m

London, Saturday 9 May 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) says the results of the local elections reflect a growing public demand for bold leadership, a credible long-term vision, and practical solutions to the economic pressures facing millions across the UK. TAP said the elections exposed increasing frustration with politics that feels reactive, short-term, and disconnected from the day-to-day realities of ordinary people. Tom Burgess, CEO of TAP, said:“These results sh

London 23 April 2026: Twenty MPs have become founding supporters of a new Parliamentary Poverty Prevention Caucus, alongside a national pledge and public petition calling on the Government to make poverty prevention a central priority of national policy. The initiative, led by campaign group Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) in partnership with Compassion in Politics, brings together MPs from across parties to develop a coordinated, prevention-led approach to tackling poverty

London, 31 March 2026 – Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) recently launched its national Prioritise Poverty Prevention campaign—an urgent push to reposition poverty prevention at the centre of UK economic policy. As part of the campaign, TAP today announced the Prioritise Poverty Prevention Partner Programme, inviting like-minded organisations to join a coordinated effort to drive political, public, and policy change. The Prioritise Poverty Prevention campaign is built on a sim