The Tax Payers Alliance ( in the UK) (cut and pasted from my old squadron website so some of the links may not perform). HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS as some of it is a bit worrying.:veryangry:
Dave M
Subject: TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin: Dispatches - the truth about MPs' expenses, Who cares about the NHS? and how to reform EU aid
TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin - 17th April 2009
MPs' Expenses get the Dispatches treatment
The TPA is delighted to announce its collaboration with Heather Brooke on a Dispatches special this Sunday. Delving into the murky and scandalous world of MPs' expenses, this programme will examine a few shocking examples of MPs who have become adept at taking advantage of taxpayers' generosity and are playing the system to maximise personal enrichment. Other topics of discussion are MPs' subsidised meals and taxpayer-funded five star lifestyles. The programme is presented by leading investigative journalist Heather Brooke, who has been working with the TPA since its formation to help expose waste and profligate Government spending using the power of the Freedom of Information Act. Last year, Heather won a court battle to get MPs' expenses published in full. The Westminster Gravy Train will be shown at 7pm on Sunday the 19th April on Channel 4. Tune in and prepare to be dumbfounded.<WBR>..
EU Development Aid
Over the Easter weekend, the TPA launched the latest in our series of reports on aid and international development. The report Reforming European Development Assistance argues that greater transparency and scrutiny is needed in EU development aid spending. The EU commands one of the largest aid budgets in the world but the public have extremely limited information about how that money is spent and there is no way for those receiving aid to be held to account for what they do with it. At present, far too much British taxpayers' money finds its way into the hands of extremists and the corrupt. To read the full report, click here.
Matthew Elliott had an opinion piece in The Independent on Monday, exploring some of the findings of the paper and putting forward some solutions to this growing and urgent problem. Read his article here.
Also in the news today, as part of our ongoing campaign against Hate Education, Matthew Elliott is quoted on the front page of this week's Jewish Chronicle, criticising the use of taxpayers' money to fund a Hizbollah seminar at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London. To read the full article, please click here.
Who Cares? You should...
The figures in Amanda Steane's book Who Cares? are almost beyond belief: around 34,000 people die unnecessarily every year in today's NHS hospitals and another 25,000 are unnecessarily permanently disabled. These 59,000 victims of poor care, neglect and negligence in New Labour's 'reformed' NHS are our loved ones. Amanda Steane's husband Paul went into hospital for minor surgery. After repeated mistakes and neglect by inexperienced doctors and over-worked nurses in dirty wards, Paul emerged a helpless invalid. In constant pain and unable to walk, talk, see or breathe properly, Paul took his own life.
The NHS tried to avoid any responsibility for what was happening to Paul - letters were 'mislaid', promises were 'forgotten' and key medical records were 'lost'. But a nurse, outraged at how Paul and Amanda were being treated, sent Amanda copies of the 'lost' medical records. These indicated that the NHS was probably lying and the police started to investigate. In her own words and through photos of Paul's horrific decline from healthy man to helpless invalid, Amanda aims to warn us about what is happening in many hospitals in today's NHS. She does this, not to place blame, but to ensure that nobody else ever again has to suffer as Paul did.
Amanda has provided an important voice to all those around the country who have been mistreated and neglected by the NHS, and has kindly let us put her book on our website so that TPA supporters can download a free copy here.
Council Tax Protest report - how you can help
On Thursday this week, our activists and volunteers went to support Sussex Council Tax victim Terry Reilly who appeared in court for non-payment of council tax increases. Terry has made a stand by not paying council tax increases above the rate of inflation. We'd like to thank those who turned up for the protest, but our work isn't done yet. You can help by reading Terry's message and sending the blog to members of Mid Sussex Council to make them aware of the damage their council tax increases are doing to those on low and fixed incomes. You can read Terry's message and find out how to send it to Mid Sussex's councillors here.
Sutton Campaign Day
On Friday 24th April TPA supporters will be in Sutton's high street to campaign against high taxes. After an above inflation tax increase, we'll be out calling for lower council tax and an end to wasteful spending. Please come and join us to recruit more members to the cause. We'll be meeting outside Sutton Railway Station, Brighton Road, Sutton 11am on Friday 24th April. If you plan to attend or would like more information, please email our grassroots coordinator Tim Aker at
tim.aker@taxpayersa<WBR>lliance.com.
Pension Case Studies
We're looking for case studies from our members who find themselves victims of the pension crisis. If you've seen your pension raided by the taxman, fall in value or face a shortfall then we'd like to hear from you. Please contact our grassroots coordinator, Tim Aker, at
tim.aker@taxpayersa<WBR>lliance.com.
Best of the Blogs
Campaign: Derek Draper should refund the taxpayers' money used in his smear plans
Campaign: About time, too
Campaign: The transparency bug spreads to Bedford
Better Government: The credit crunch may damage your teeth
Better Government: Updates to the Town Hall Rich List
European Union: Son of Quango
European Union: The Legal Fig Leaf
Non-job of the week: Surrey County Council
www.taxpayersallian<WBR>ce.com/
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