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Taxpayers' Alliance received over £223k in foreign donations Taxpayers' Alliance received over £223k in foreign donations
(2 months later)
A political group that claims to be an independent grassroots campaign representing ordinary British taxpayers has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign donations.A political group that claims to be an independent grassroots campaign representing ordinary British taxpayers has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign donations.
The Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) has received at least $286,000 (£223,300) from US-based donors in the last five years, including $100,000 originating from a billionaire-founded religious trust incorporated in the Bahamas.The Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) has received at least $286,000 (£223,300) from US-based donors in the last five years, including $100,000 originating from a billionaire-founded religious trust incorporated in the Bahamas.
An American group set up specifically to support the alliance has given more than $186,000 from donors whose identities are secret, according to documents filed with the US Internal Revenue Service.An American group set up specifically to support the alliance has given more than $186,000 from donors whose identities are secret, according to documents filed with the US Internal Revenue Service.
The TPA is part of a rightwing network that promotes free market capitalism around the world.The TPA is part of a rightwing network that promotes free market capitalism around the world.
Since it was set up in 2004, the group has styled itself as an “independent grassroots campaign” that speaks “for ordinary taxpayers fed up with government waste, increasing taxation, and a lack of transparency in all levels of government”. It keeps its donors secret, saying it respects their privacy.Since it was set up in 2004, the group has styled itself as an “independent grassroots campaign” that speaks “for ordinary taxpayers fed up with government waste, increasing taxation, and a lack of transparency in all levels of government”. It keeps its donors secret, saying it respects their privacy.
The latest disclosure comes amid growing concern over undeclared donors attempting to influence British politics by donating to thinktanks and campaigns that refuse to disclose the source of their funding.The latest disclosure comes amid growing concern over undeclared donors attempting to influence British politics by donating to thinktanks and campaigns that refuse to disclose the source of their funding.
The TPA is one of nine lobbying groups linked to a single address in Tufton Street, Westminster that campaign for greater privatisation and a reduction of the state, or promote climate science denial.The TPA is one of nine lobbying groups linked to a single address in Tufton Street, Westminster that campaign for greater privatisation and a reduction of the state, or promote climate science denial.
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has called for an inquiry into the funding of the groups after the TPA declined to defend a legal action by a whistleblower.The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has called for an inquiry into the funding of the groups after the TPA declined to defend a legal action by a whistleblower.
The alliance did not contest Shahmir Sanni’s allegation that it had unlawfully sacked him in April after he blew the whistle on unlawful overspending by Brexiters in the referendum campaign.The alliance did not contest Shahmir Sanni’s allegation that it had unlawfully sacked him in April after he blew the whistle on unlawful overspending by Brexiters in the referendum campaign.
In legal documents, he called the TPA “a lobbying group pursuing a rightwing political ideology”. He added that the TPA and the other Tufton Street groups pursue “different strands of the same political goals” and meet every other Tuesday to agree a set of rightwing talking points on topical political issues. The groups coordinated among themselves who should disseminate these lines to the media, he said.In legal documents, he called the TPA “a lobbying group pursuing a rightwing political ideology”. He added that the TPA and the other Tufton Street groups pursue “different strands of the same political goals” and meet every other Tuesday to agree a set of rightwing talking points on topical political issues. The groups coordinated among themselves who should disseminate these lines to the media, he said.
McDonnell has written to the heads of UK broadcasters urging them to label the Tufton Street groups in a way “that reflects their operation as rightwing lobbyists with close links to the Conservative party” in any media appearances.McDonnell has written to the heads of UK broadcasters urging them to label the Tufton Street groups in a way “that reflects their operation as rightwing lobbyists with close links to the Conservative party” in any media appearances.
The American Friends of the Taxpayers Alliance was established in 2012, with the specific aim of supporting the “international and domestic work of the United Kingdom’s Taxpayers’ Alliance”. The American group’s principal officer at the time was Matthew Elliott, then the TPA’s chief executive and one of its founders.The American Friends of the Taxpayers Alliance was established in 2012, with the specific aim of supporting the “international and domestic work of the United Kingdom’s Taxpayers’ Alliance”. The American group’s principal officer at the time was Matthew Elliott, then the TPA’s chief executive and one of its founders.
The American group issued grants worth $2,130 in 2013, $31,060 in 2014, $106,458 in 2015 and $47,000 in 2016.The American group issued grants worth $2,130 in 2013, $31,060 in 2014, $106,458 in 2015 and $47,000 in 2016.
The trustees include John O’Connell, the current chief executive of the TPA and Sara Rainwater, the TPA’s operations director.The trustees include John O’Connell, the current chief executive of the TPA and Sara Rainwater, the TPA’s operations director.
The TPA is one of more than 475 rightwing organisations around the world that are members of the Atlas Network. The network trains and helps these organisations to promote free markets in 90 countries. The Atlas Network donates millions of dollars to organisations around the world. Under US law, the identities of the recipients are not required to be published.The TPA is one of more than 475 rightwing organisations around the world that are members of the Atlas Network. The network trains and helps these organisations to promote free markets in 90 countries. The Atlas Network donates millions of dollars to organisations around the world. Under US law, the identities of the recipients are not required to be published.
In 2013 the Atlas Network awarded the TPA a $100,000 prize for campaigning for lower taxes, including cuts to corporation and income tax by David Cameron’s coalition government.In 2013 the Atlas Network awarded the TPA a $100,000 prize for campaigning for lower taxes, including cuts to corporation and income tax by David Cameron’s coalition government.
The money for the prize had originated from the Bahamas-based Templeton Religion Trust, which was founded and funded by the financier Sir John Templeton, who died in 2008. Templeton’s wealth has funded a series of rightwing causes.The money for the prize had originated from the Bahamas-based Templeton Religion Trust, which was founded and funded by the financier Sir John Templeton, who died in 2008. Templeton’s wealth has funded a series of rightwing causes.
The Taxpayers’ Alliance denied that it had misrepresented itself as a grassroots organisation. “We present ourselves as such because that is exactly what we are and what we do,” a spokesperson said.The Taxpayers’ Alliance denied that it had misrepresented itself as a grassroots organisation. “We present ourselves as such because that is exactly what we are and what we do,” a spokesperson said.
The TPA added that it had conceded Sanni’s legal case “on pragmatic grounds” and this did not denote “any agreement or acceptance” of his allegations.The TPA added that it had conceded Sanni’s legal case “on pragmatic grounds” and this did not denote “any agreement or acceptance” of his allegations.
In disclosures reported by the Observer in March, Sanni said Vote Leave, the official organisation that campaigned for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, had circumvented spending limits.In disclosures reported by the Observer in March, Sanni said Vote Leave, the official organisation that campaigned for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, had circumvented spending limits.
At the time it dismissed Sanni, the TPA claimed one of its donors had withdrawn financial support because of his whistleblowing. One effect of its decision not to contest his claim is that it will not have to disclose any information about its financial backers in court.At the time it dismissed Sanni, the TPA claimed one of its donors had withdrawn financial support because of his whistleblowing. One effect of its decision not to contest his claim is that it will not have to disclose any information about its financial backers in court.
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