a nation of taxpayers

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Will Yarwood are joined by Karl Williams, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Studies.  The CPS has published a paper: 'Britain and the ECHR - Past Myths, Present Problems and Future Options' by The Right Hon The Lord Lilley.  They discuss whether Britain could or should quit the ECHR.  They also chat about the latest stats revealing how many foreign...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Will Yarwood are joined once again by Rupert Lowe MP. Since he was last on the podcast, Rupert is no longer a Reform UK MP but now sits as an Independent MP representing Great Yarmouth.  They chat bout Rupert's first year in Parliament, his leaving of Reform UK, police seizing his firearms in an unannounced visit and his new project, Restore Britain . 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Elliot Keck and Darwin Friend to discuss the first year of the Labour government.  They also hear from voters in Worthing, West Sussex, who give their assessment of Keir Starmer's first 12 months in Downing Street. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Elliot Keck are joined by Jake Wallis Simons.  Jake is a columnist, author, broadcaster, foreign correspondent and former editor of the Jewish Chronicle.  They talk about Iran, Israel, media bias and how tensions in the Middle East impact on UK taxpayers.  Click here for a list of Jake's books.   Jake on Substack . 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Benjamin Elks and Simon Clark, Director of Forest, the lobby group of smokers.  They discuss smoking, freedom and the ongoing persecution of smokers and vapers. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Head of Research Darwin Friend and former Conservative MP and government minister Steve Baker to analyse today's Spending Review. 

This episode is a real life story about one woman's nightmare experience with HMRC and a case of mistaken identity.  Gabrielle O'Donovan is the author of ' Gino's Contraband: Guilty Until Proven Innocent '.  She joins podcast host Duncan Barkes and John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, to share her story. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Will Yarwood are joined by Peter Whittle, Founder and Director of the New Culture Forum .  They discuss the constant attacks on Great Britain's history and heritage and what can be done to stop them.  Peter is also a former Deputy Leader of UKIP and offers his thoughts on the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Will Yarwood are joined this week by Toby Young - Baron Young of Acton.  Toby is founder and director of the Free Speech Union and an associate editor of The Spectator.  They talk about the Lucy Connolly injustice, freedom of speech and the threat of a 'banter ban'. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by TPA researcher Jonathan Eida and Alys Denby, Opinion and Features Editor at City A.M.  Together they discuss the Labour government's current relationship with British business and their position on regulation in the City.  They also talk about the lack of business experience in the Cabinet and the ongoing rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Will Yarwood and Henry Hill, Deputy Editor of Conservative Home.  They chew over the recent local election results and Reform UK's by-election victory in Runcorn and Helsby. As well as discussing the challenges now facing Reform, they chat about Kemi Badenoch's current performance and how long she might have left as leader of the Conservative Party...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by TPA researcher Callum McGoldrick as the TPA launches a new report: Big Spending Projects Gone Wrong . They also talk to HS2 campaigner Michael Gross about his campaign: Where's The Money?    The TPA is calling for robust forecasting, an expanded Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects framework, penalties for failing project leaders to protect taxpaye...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Elliot Keck are joined by former government adviser James Price.  James is also a former Chief of Staff to a UK Chancellor and currently runs an excellent substack entitled Who Governs Britain?  On this episode they discuss the TPA's new piece of research 'Britain's Quangos Uncovered'. James also talks about his experience in government and how ministers ha...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Elliot Keck are joined by Emma Revell, External Affairs Director at the Centre for Policy Studies.  They talk about the future of the steel works in Scunthorpe and whether nationalisation is the solution. Plus there's an exchange of views regarding MP's pay and some thoughts about the challenges facing all political parties with the by-election and local el...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TPA and Ted Bromund, former senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation.  Given Ted's unique insight into the Washington political mindset, they discuss Trump, trade and tariffs, along with the possibility of a UK/US Free Trade Agreement.  Note: This episode was recorded before Donald Trump announced his 90-day 'p...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by TPA researcher Jonathan Eida and Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman.  Together they go through the TPA's Town Hall Rich List for 2025 and pick over some of the vast salaries paid to council bosses in the UK.  Read more here: Town Hall Rich List 2025 Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman: Matthew Goodwin-Freeman

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by Darwin Friend, Head of Research at the TPA and Fred De Fossard, Director of Strategy at the Prosperity Institute.  Together they pick over the contents of the Spring Statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.  Show notes: Read more on the TPA website.

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Elliot Keck are joined by Andrew RT Davies, the former leader of the Welsh Conservatives.  Andrew explains why he resigned last year and outlines the current state of the political scene in Wales.   He also gives his view on the threat of Reform UK in next year's Senedd election and whether or not he might join them.  

One of our most opinionated episodes ever!  Fleet Street legend and presenter of TALK's Morning Glory, Mike Graham, joins podcast host Duncan Barkes and the TPA's Elliot Keck.  They talk about the state of today's political journalism, scrapping the BBC and the current spat raging within Reform UK.  Mike also chats about his time in Fleet Street and about his ratings busting radio show. 

Podcast host Duncan Barkes and William Yarwood from the TPA are joined by political commentator Patrick O'Flynn. Patrick is also a former UKIP and SDP MEP.  They talk about his time in UKIP and the SDP, how the Conservative Party needs to stop being a 'broad church', whether or not the rise of Reform UK is a blip and how mass immigration is destroying Great Britain.  https://patrickoflynn.substack...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Elliot Keck.  Their guest this week is Dr Robert Kilgour. Robert is a business leader, entrepreneur, investor, property developer and philanthropist. He is also Executive Chairman of Renaissance Care in Scotland.  Robert talks about the negative impact the Chancellor's Budget will have on the care sector, along with his other thoughts on the curren...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by Elliot Keck of the TPA and Ben Habib, Chair of Great British PAC. Ben talks about the creation of Great British PAC  and its plans to unite the right. He also talks about his time as a Brexit Party MEP, why he quit Reform UK and how he views Nigel Farage*. Ben was a Deputy Leader of Reform UK as well as standing as a candidate for the party.    *This episode...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by Daniel Lilley, Senior Researcher at Civitas and Max Marlow, Director of Research and Education at the Adam Smith Institute.  They discuss the new Civitas research paper entitled 'Balancing taxes and benefits: Starting the public conversation on net recipience'.  Max also talks about the ASI's Millionaire Tracker that reveals a growing number of millionaires...

Conservative MP Esther McVey joins podcast host Duncan Barkes and Elliot Keck of the TPA.  Should there be an electoral pact between the Conservatives and Reform UK ahead of the next general election?  What would it take for Esther to defect to Reform UK? Why did the Conservatives take such a drubbing at the last general election? Find out her answers to these questions and many more. There's also...

Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by Darwin Friend, Head of Research at the TPA and Rebecca Ryan from Defund The BBC .  Rebecca talks about the campaign and explains how you can legally cancel your BBC licence.  Darwin outlines the TPA's position on future funding of the BBC as it heads towards its charter review in 2027.  There's also discussion on what the BBC should or should not provide in...