There are more taxing questions for the Guardian to ask
by Max Wind-Cowie
The Guardian appears to be pursuing a rather quixotic crusade against the Taxpayers Alliance (TPA). Over the weekend there was an ‘investigation’ into their funding and membership and today Polly Toynbee accuses them of ‘rewriting history’ over public sector pay. Joining their attacks is John Prescott, who accuses the TPA of being a Tory ‘front group’ (this allegation is particularly silly considering the number of public spats between the TPA and various Conservative councils and Local Authorities).
Some of these criticisms may be justified; it is certainly foolish for an organization that campaigns for lower British taxes to appoint a French resident to their board. But the sudden interest in the TPA also highlights an odd phenomenon emerging on the British left. Why are the Guardian, their columnists and John Prescott using their fiercest words to attempt to crush a small, independent campaign group? They could be pursuing the Conservative Party; instead they are bullying the TPA.
This strange fixation is reminiscent of the centre-left’s other current preoccupation; the European allies that the Conservative Party sits with in the European Parliament. It begs the question, does the left believe that the British public are as worked up about these things as they are? These peripheral issues are not what will make up the minds of voters – the economy, tax and public spending, public services and the war in Afghanistan perhaps, but a couple of unsavoury MEPs and an activist group? These may be the kind of things that provoke intrigue and interest in the Westminster village but, by obsessing over them in public, the left is doing itself a great disservice. It makes them look distracted from the real issues and out of touch with the real concerns of British people. There are plenty of arguments the left can make, about the role of government and the shape of the state; by choosing instead to fixate on the likes of the TPA the left is letting itself down.
James Graham
If only the Guardian was pre-occupied with the Taxpayers' Alliance. Three articles? "Crushing" a small organisation? Are you serious?
I've noticed an increasing trend towards hypersensitivity from Conservatives as we near the election. The objections to serious questions being asked about their allies in Europe tend take on hysterical proportions. A couple of references to the TPA in the Guardian over the weekend has been projected here to a Failing of The Left.
In the same paper yesterday, Larry Elliot tore apart George Osborne's economic policy. I could cite you dozens of other examples. To pretend that the chronic failure of Conservative thinking post-credit crunch is not being commented on by their opponents is ludicrous. More to the point, it smacks of misdirection.
Jonathan Baldwin
It's entirely appropriate to highlight this organisation's agenda and origins. It beggars belief that the TPA is asked for comments by the press and TV - they are not a democratic organisation but a pressure group. How do I join the alliance? How do I influence its policies? It does not speak for me, and yet its name conjures up some sort of "union of the taxpayers"
I suspect the investigations and criticisms are more about raising the issue of their authority with other media outlets than alerting voters. If, as a result of the Guardian's reports, a BBC producer thinks twice about inviting the TPA to comment on the next budget, it will have been time well spent.
Robert Johnson
"This strange fixation is reminiscent of the centre-left’s other current preoccupation; the European allies that the Conservative Party sits with in the European Parliament. It begs the question, does the left believe that the British public are as worked up about these things as they are? These peripheral issues are not what will make up the minds of voters"
Which in turn begs the question, has the right become so preoccupied with parroting the alleged concerns of 'the British public', that it can no longer sympathise with those whose political commitments - for instance to the memory of Polish Jews - lie deeper than this?
Mark Wallace
Jonathan Baldwin: "How do I join the alliance?"
Thanks for asking, Jonathan - you can join for free here:
https://www.mainhighway.com/tpa/join/join.php
On the point Max raises:
"Why are the Guardian, their columnists and John Prescott using their fiercest words to attempt to crush a small, independent campaign group?"
It seems to be that as they can't refute the factual data that we are generating, they are trying to play the man instead.
Clifford Singer
And, in the interests of consumer choice, here's where you can join the Other TaxPayers' Alliance:
http://www.taxpayersalliance.org
I think Matthew, James and Jonathan have explained very well in their comments above why it is legitimate for the left to scrutinise the TPA. And Max's contention that "by choosing instead to fixate on the likes of the TPA the left is letting itself down" misses that point that the TPA has in fact pretty much escaped scrutiny until now.
As Ross Clark wrote in the Spectator last year: “[Coverage] is so one-sided that one almost yearns for some opposition on the subject. Apart from Dame Polly, is no one out there prepared to challenge the Taxpayers’ Alliance and defend public spending? ... The achievement of the Taxpayers’ Alliance is to make one word synonymous with tax: waste.”
Mark writes: "It seems to be that as they can't refute the factual data that we are generating, they are trying to play the man instead."
In fact the Other TPA site is full of links to articles explaining where the TPA got it wrong, either in terms of facts or analysis.
Here's one example that we posted:
http://www.taxpayersalliance.org/news/paris-hilton-britains-best-performing-mep
And here's one from the excellent and well-informed blog, Labour and Capital:
http://labourandcapital.blogspot.com/2008/02/taxpayers-alliance-report-on-lgps.html
DAVID VINTER
I suggest folk listen carefully to their friends, everyone I know complains about the price of fuel! And if this isn't blatant taxpaying, I don't know what is! On the other hand an urban Guardian reader, living next to a tube station, probably thinks it's all about Chateau Yqem. In the real world we are hurting!
matthew bond
I think left wing groups are right to tackle the Tax payers alliance. Having emerged from Business for Sterling it is the broadest and most active non-party organisation of the right. It represents a broad alliance between right wing plutocrats and the establishment right centred on clubs like Whites. It may clash with the Conservatives at times but it is clearly promoting their agenda without the constraints of party competition. Among its affiliates are some of the largest donors to the Tories. Of course, other issues are important but the left has hardly picked a target out of the air when it picks on TPA.
I cant understand why you are surprised that politically conscious leftists are troubled by TPA's existence and influence. But then again Demos has always housed the Uriah Heep tendency on the left.