In a galaxy far, far away—or rather, in Whitehall—someone’s taken leave of their senses again. In the latest episode of out of this world government spending, £200,000 of taxpayer money is being used to fund research that aims to tackle climate change…through Star Wars. This is not a Sith trick…
UK Innovation and Research, a state-funded body, has handed over the money to Open University for a project titled “Using Star Wars to Improve Sector Sustainability Practices.” The study aims to draw parallels between environmental challenges in the Star Wars universe—such as the destruction of Alderaan—and real-world climate issues. Apparently, we’re supposed to learn something about tackling global warming by reflecting on a fictional planet blown to bits by the Death Star…
Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said:
“Taxpayers will think that likening the Death Star to global warming is totally absurd. Funded research should focus on actual science, not sci-fi fantasies.”
The study will also helpfully dive into the “ecological impact of making props for the Star Wars films.” The force is clearly not strong with whoever thought this was a good use of public money…
Ministers are settling into their ministerial offices. The TaxPayer’s Alliance have uncovered that Rayner’s ministerial team at MHCLG has had quite the number of upgrades to their offices. Seven fridges, nine wall clocks, and a deep clean later it’s a bill of nearly £5,000…
The department makes clear that “none of the attached expenditure was requested by Ministers.” It was signed off though – is Rayner not expecting to get that new Deputy Prime Minister’s office after all?
The government has started hiring on LinkedIn for state energy investment vehicle GB Energy through DESNZ. So far thirteen mid-level positions are being advertised, all for £52,985 and spread across London, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh and Salford. £688,805 in taxpayer-funded salaries up for grabs…
All the job adverts say GB Energy only wants its progenitor staff in the office 40-60% of the times and offers “a variety of flexible working options” which includes working from home. On top of that comes a neat £14,305 towards being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Meanwhile – up go the energy bills…
William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, sounds a warning note:
“GB Energy has barely started walking and the civil service is already hiring copious carers to babysit it while it teeths. The government needs to make sure that GB Energy does not turn into a taxpayer funded jolly for busy body bureaucrats.”
Interviews take place on the 16th of next month over Microsoft Teams. Start as you mean to go on…
The Taxpayers’ Alliance is piling the pressure on Labour with the re-launch of the “debt clock,” now showcasing the UK’s ballooning national debt in real time as it soars past £2.5 trillion. The numbers are grim: debt is climbing by £381 million every day, and co-conspirators can see the figure increasing £4,410 every second on the site. The NHS could be fully funded for 14 years with the amount we owe…
John O’Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance tells Guido of the worrying signs of the usual Labour spending strategy:
“Despite reassuring rhetoric, all signs are that Labour are going to continue to be a high spending government throwing money at every problem under the sun. Interest rates may have been low in the past but they have risen now and UK debt is consistently rising at an astronomical rate with taxpayers ultimately going to foot the bill.”
Interest payments on this colossal debt are draining the taxpayer of an eye-watering £102.2 billion, making it the government’s fifth largest expense last year alone. While Rachel Reeves is quick to point fingers at the so-called Tory black hole, she’s been conveniently quiet on this burden that lands on the backs of Britons…
As Scots scrimp and save to pay the highest income tax rates in the United Kingdom, those in the public sector won’t be feeling so despondent. It turns out in 2022-2023 1,414 Scottish public sector employees reeled in over £100,000 in salary, bonuses and perks, according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance. A whopping 291 employees received over £150,000 in one financial year. A record high figure of busy bodies having higher wages than even the Prime Minister…
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:
“Scots will be shocked to learn of the number of bureaucrats with six-figure pay packets across Scotland’s ballooning public sector. With significant responsibilities handed to Scottish ministers and officials, taxpayers would be willing to accept a small number of well-paid, high performers delivering frontline services, but instead they are being given a bloated, inefficient state.”
The eye-watering figures will certainly rile-up a fair few. A true Scot knows the value of a penny…
Rachel Reeves targeted planning in her first speech as Chancellor, and the reaction from the free-market think tanks has been unusually positive. The theme amongst the wonks is “we welcome the plans”. Cosying up to the new leading party…
The Institute of Economic Affairs spokesman hails the plans: “Rachel Reeves is right to emphasise the importance of growth in tackling Britain’s challenges…Undoubtedly, the most exciting part of the agenda is the government’s immediate plans to reform the planning system”. Labour pleasing the YIMBYs…
The Adam Smith Institute‘s Maxwell Marlow said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s plans to introduce supply-side reforms…Overall, this indicates a seriousness of purpose in fixing one of the greatest drags on Britain’s prosperity.” Though it’s correctly pointed out “plans must be based on results rather than intentions”…
The Taxpayers’ Alliance‘s CEO John O’Connell writes: “Taxpayers will welcome the chancellor’s commitment to delivering growth and her genuine grasp of the problems with the planning system”. They don’t point out that Reeves’ plan to hire 300 new planning officers will cost £20 million a year alone, which ultimately falls on…the taxpayer…
As Guido noted earlier, these promises have been made before. Actions speak louder than words…
