Britain Needs Bold Policies Again — Not More Management of Decline

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 necessary.

It is whether politics is prepared to think boldly enough to deliver it.

Because the reality is this:

Britain cannot continue spending billions managing the consequences of poverty, inequality, and rising financial hardship while leaving many of the underlying causes untouched.

We need a different approach — one focused on prevention, long-term thinking, and improving the wellbeing of the majority of people.

That means being willing to rethink taxation, housing, democracy, infrastructure, and how we measure national success itself.

A New Way of Measuring Success

For too long, governments have measured success almost entirely through GDP growth.

But GDP alone does not tell us whether:

·       people feel financially secure

·       families can afford housing

·       communities are thriving

·       living standards are improving

·       people feel hopeful about the future

That is why Britain should adopt the National Wellbeing Dashboard alongside economic growth measures.

Government policy should ultimately be judged not just by economic output, but by the quality of life it creates.

Ten Bold Moves Britain Could Take Now

1. Reduce the Cost of Living Through Tax Reform

The tax burden on work and ordinary households has become too high.

Council tax is increasingly seen as outdated and regressive. Millions of renters and lower-income households are under constant financial pressure.

TAP proposes abolishing council tax for approximately 35% of households, particularly lower-income renters, while moving toward a fairer proportional property or land value-based system.

Stamp duty should also be abolished for ordinary residential transactions. People should not be penalised simply for trying to move home, relocate for work, or improve their living situation.

At the same time, the income tax threshold should be raised significantly — potentially to £30,000 — so that working people can meet basic living costs before paying substantial tax.

The principle is simple:

Tax work less. Tax accumulated wealth more fairly.

2. Rebalance the Tax System

Britain increasingly taxes earned income more heavily than accumulated wealth.

That imbalance contributes to rising inequality and declining economic mobility.

A modest wealth tax on assets above £10 million, alongside aligning capital gains tax more closely with income tax, could generate significant revenue while affecting only a very small proportion of the population.

This is not about punishing success.

It is about restoring balance and reducing pressure on ordinary households.

3. Modernise British Democracy

Britain increasingly operates as a multi-party democracy while still using political structures designed for a two-party system.

That creates frustration and weakens trust.

Introducing proportional representation would:

·       better reflect voter preferences

·       encourage collaboration

·       reduce tribal politics

·       strengthen democratic legitimacy

Parliament itself also needs renewal.

Rather than spending vast sums endlessly repairing an ageing Palace of Westminster, Britain should consider developing a modern parliamentary structure better suited to a collaborative multi-party democracy, alongside reforming the House of Lords and reducing the influence of large political donations.

4. End Homelessness

Homelessness in one of the wealthiest countries on earth should not be accepted as inevitable.

Evidence increasingly shows that preventing homelessness costs far less than managing its consequences through emergency accommodation, health pressures, and social breakdown.

A serious national homelessness prevention strategy would not only improve lives but reduce long-term public expenditure.

5. Build Affordable Communities Around Rail Infrastructure

Britain faces a housing crisis not simply because of housing shortages, but because of poor planning and unequal economic concentration.

TAP proposes building up to 1.2 million homes on publicly owned land near rail stations outside major cities while retaining public ownership of the land itself.

T

his could:

·       improve affordability

·       strengthen regional economies

·       reduce pressure on London and the South East

·       increase connectivity and opportunity

6. Treat Climate and Energy as Economic Issues

Energy insecurity and rising utility costs increasingly affect living standards and national resilience.

Britain should take a far more ambitious approach to:

·       renewable energy

·       insulation

·       grid infrastructure

·       long-term energy independence

Reducing emissions and reducing household costs should be viewed as complementary goals, not competing ones.

Why Boldness Matters

Britain now risks:

·       entrenched inequality

·       permanent financial insecurity

·       political fragmentation

·       declining trust in institutions

Incrementalism alone is unlikely to solve challenges of this scale.

What is increasingly required is:

·       bold leadership

·       long-term thinking

·       a credible national vision

Not endless management of decline.

But a serious plan to build a fairer, more resilient, more hopeful country.

At TAP, we believe these ideas are not radical because they are extreme.

They are radical because politics has become too cautious to discuss meaningful long-term change.

And that must change.

And that starts with leadership, new leadership

Ends

For more information, media enquiries, interviews, or comment: Tom Burgess, CEO, Taxpayers Against PovertyEmail: taxpayersagainstpoverty@gmail.comWebsite: www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk

About Taxpayers Against PovertyTaxpayers against Poverty is a UK-based independent advocacy group dedicated to tackling poverty, inequality, and economic injustice TAP seeks to influence national and local policy by promoting practical economic proposals that have a positive effect on reducing poverty and unnecessary financial hardship using a direct approach to decision makers and other influencers.

TAP was founded by the late Rev Paul Nicolson and is led by Tom Burgess, author of From Here to Prosperity, a new political agenda for a sustainable economy and greater social justice, which proposes taxing wealth more and income less. TAP’s sister organisation is Compassion in Politics which seeks to bring more honesty, respect and compassion into political life.