May/10
11:06 45
Leaked TaxPayers’ Alliance guest list is a Who’s Who of the conservative right
The document below underscores the central role of the TaxPayers’ Alliance within the Conservative/libertarian right in the UK. The pressure group not only provides tediously repetitive quotes to lazy journalists (“this is a slap in the face for taxpayers blah blah” ) but organises regular off-the-record round table discussions for its right-wing friends.
Much of the guest list for the central-London symposiums reads like a Who’s Who of British Tea Party movement types drawn from politics, business, the blogosphere and think tanks. Daniel Hannan MEP, Douglas Carswell MP, Donal Blaney, Paul Staines (aka Guido Fawkes) all feature alongside less colourful characters such as YouGov founder Stephan Shakespeare, who chairs proceedings. The apparent presence of CCHQ’s Sam Coates and the Liberal Democrats’ former head of comms Mark Littlewood may cause some small embarrassment in the blue and yellow corners while a smattering of business types (including BP’s director of government affairs) provide a Bilderberg flavour to the meetings.
At the very least, it’s an interesting snapshot of the conservative right-wing hinterland in 2010 and yet another reason why the media should qualify statements from the “Rent-a-Quote Alliance”.
Let’s see what this throws up.
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11:22am on May 18th, 2010
I don’t see the problem. The higher rates of taxation affect more affluent and therefore more conservative voters. These spokespeople represent those voters.
People paying higher taxation don’t have ambitions to work hard just to pay for the lazier elements of society.
11:52am on May 18th, 2010
Excellent post, congratulations.
Note presence of “Freedom2Choose” (anti-smoking restrictions), “Global Warming Policy Foundation” (climate change deniers) and the Government Affairs Director of BP! (freedom to leak oil into the pacific). Also the “Campaign for an English Parliament” (let’s get rid of those Labour voters in Scotland and Wales).
The next five years will be fun, fun, fun
By the way, some lefties need to go to their next meeting, under cover if necessary.
11:57am on May 18th, 2010
PS The “Legatum Institute” looks as if it might bear investigation. The “Legatum Group” includes “Legatum Capital”, described on its website (http://www.li.com/) as a “private portfolio investment firm that manages a multi-billion dollar fund investing only proprietary capital. Legatum Capital’s mission is to maximise its absolute long-term return on investment in the world’s capital markets”. Not very keen on taxing rich people, at a rough guess.
12:06pm on May 18th, 2010
Imagine stumbling in on that meeting? (shudders)
5:49pm on May 18th, 2010
I’m on the National Council of the Campaign for an English Parliament and I’m not a Conservative. Also on the National Council are a couple of members of the English Democrats, a former Lib Dem, a Labour man, a Greenie and of course some Conservatives.
And the “guest list” is quite open, pretty much anyone anyone representing an organisation that’s got an interest in politics or public affairs can go along – you just have to tell them in advance so they know how many people are going!
Mind you don’t trip over that molehill on your way out, it’s of mountainous proportions.
6:29pm on May 18th, 2010
Thats all very well, wonkotsane, but the list does have a much higher than average number fo ring wing nutters on it, even if your own organisation is genuinely cross-party. The Young Britons Foundation is a case in point – google for conservative madrasa!
10:00am on May 19th, 2010
I’m in the Campaign for an English Parliament and I’m not part of the ‘Conservative right’ – nor even ‘the right’ or ‘the Conservatives’ for that matter. The interest for the CEP lies in the fact that the TPA does research into the Barnett Formula, a financial settlement that underpins the right of non-English MP’s to vote on English legislation (given that English spending determines the block grant available to the non-English nations of the UK).
The CEP is, of course, cross-party, as this post from our former chairman demonstrates.
We’re absolutely nothing to do with the tea party movement, and I resent the accusation that we are. I wouldn’t donate to, or fundraise for, the Conservative Party under any circumstances, and neither would the CEP.
5:52am on May 20th, 2010
I’m in the Campaign for an English Parliament and I’m not part of the ‘Conservative right’ – nor even ‘the right’ or ‘the Conservatives’ for that matter. The interest for the CEP lies in the fact that the TPA does research into the Barnett Formula, a financial settlement that underpins the right of non-English MP’s to vote on English legislation (given that English spending determines the block grant available to the non-English nations of the UK).
+1