TAP Ramps Up Campaign for modernising tax system

London, 8 September 2025 — Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) today announced the next phase of its campaign to modernise the UK tax system and reduce hardship for millions. With the Autumn Budget due on 26 November, TAP will focus on building a cross-party coalition of MPs to ensure wealth taxation is firmly on the political agenda.

TAP has appointed Simon Thomson as Campaign Director to lead this initiative.

Simon was Head of European and International Media, People’s Vote Campaign. where he helped grow MP support from under 10 to nearly 300. He has also been Strategic Communications Manager at FareShare, a national charity fighting hunger and food waste where his campaign work helped secure £15 million in UK government funding to combat food poverty. Simon is an award winning former BBC reporter, news editor and film maker and has twice stood as Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate.

Over 14 million people in the UK live in poverty. Rising costs and stagnant wages mean millions more are struggling to get by. TAP argues that the current system — which relies heavily on taxing earned income while leaving vast wealth under-taxed — is broken, unfair, and economically harmful.

“This is not about punishing wealth,” said Tom Burgess, CEO of TAP. “It’s about modernising the way we raise revenue, so it is fair, efficient, and fit for the 21st century. Those who work hard should keep more of what they earn, while those in a stronger position contribute fairly to our shared prosperity.”

TAP’s campaign will:

·       Engage and brief MPs who have spoken out on poverty, inequality, and wealth taxes.

·       Build a parliamentary coalition prepared to support wealth taxation measures.

·       Press for amendments to the Autumn Budget if it fails to shift the balance towards wealth.

·       Mobilise public support for the principle of “Tax Wealth, Not Work.”

By focusing on MPs across parties who are committed to reducing inequality, TAP aims to generate sufficient parliamentary momentum to influence government policy directly.

“Reducing poverty isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s an economic growth strategy,” Burgess added. “Fairer taxation means stronger local economies, higher productivity, and lower long-term costs. The Autumn Budget is the moment to act.”

About TAPTaxpayers Against Poverty is an independent UK-based advocacy group dedicated to tackling poverty, inequality, and social injustice. TAP campaigns for practical, evidence-based policies that reduce hardship and ensure fairness in the economy. 

These policies are presented as The Real Agenda, TAP’s policy platform, it is a clear, focused call to action against poverty and inequality in the UK. The aim is to refocus the public debate on what really matters: decent incomes, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and fair taxes, because that is the Real Agenda!

Contact:Tom Burgess, CEO, Taxpayers Against Poverty📧 taxpayersagainstpoverty@gmail.com | 🌐 www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk | www.realagenda.org