TPA Talks - The TaxPayers' Alliance Podcast

Simon Clark, director of smokers' rights group Forest, joins us for this episode of TPA Talks. Reflecting on the upcoming smoking ban after decades of creeping regulation, Simon explains how the war on smokers and the rise of the nanny state have worrying implications for us all - smokers or not.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, joins us for this episode of TPA Talks. Ahead of the changes to alcohol duty in August 2023, we discuss the challenges faced by British pubs and breweries in a post-pandemic world. Emma sets her sights on beer duty, business rates, regulation, and the role of pubs in revitalising high streets and city centres. Sign the BBPA&#...

In this special episode of TPA Talks, Christopher Snowden, Head of Lifestyle Economics for the IEA, discusses the Nanny State Index, which ranks European countries based on excessive regulation of food, drinks, vaping, tobacco, and alcohol. Discover why the UK has climbed to the unenviable position of being the second-worst country for food and soft drink regulation, the role of e-cigarettes in ha...

London Assembly member and former mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey AM joins us for this episode of TPA Talks. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Shaun's political roots, the recent Budget, reforming the Metropolitan Police, the ULEZ expansion, Sadiq Khan's legacy, his future plans, and more!

In this special episode of TPA Talks, we speak to Emma Webb, UK director of the Common Sense Society, and Kevin O'Sullivan, hard-hitting TalkTV presenter, about the rise of "woke" waste in the public sector. We cover everything from arts funding to six-figure salaried diversity managers, and explain how these right-on practices are costing taxpayers a fortune. If you want to see diversity, equalit...

We spoke to Theodore Dalrymple - author, cultural critic, and former prison physician and psychiatrist - in this latest instalment of TPA Talks. Drawing on his colourful career that took him across the globe and to the depths of British society, Dalrymple offers his thoughts on state bureaucracy, taxpayer-funded cultural projects, architecture, the state of university education, the NHS, the BBC a...

In this episode of TPA Talks, we speak to Alex Phillips; journalist, broadcaster and former member of the European parliament. Alex offers her thoughts on everything from her journey into politics, the exorbitance of the European parliament, whether Brexit has delivered the results she had hoped for, the future of broadcast media and the whether the TV licence is still fit for purpose.

President and co-founder of the Adam Smith Institute, Madsen Pirie, joins us for this episode of TPA Talks. From think-tank pioneer to children's author, Madsen's remarkable career takes centre stage for this conversation; in which we discuss the formation of the ASI, his influence on the Thatcher era, the similarities between the 1970s and the 2020s, and how free marketeers can tell better storie...

With war breaking out in Europe once again, how should British defence policy adapt to meet current geopolitical challenges? Writer and broadcaster Charlie Peters joins us to discuss MoD waste, personnel cuts, the efficacy of NATO, the need to prepare for future conflicts, and more.

Politician turned television personality Ann Widdecombe joins us for the final edition of TPA Talks for 2021. Drawing upon her unique journey from the House of Commons to the small screen to the European Parliament, Ann pulls no punches on everything from the BBC, the government, social media, parliamentary sleaze, the House of Lords, and the NHS - and tells us what it means to be a conviction pol...

Our panel of experts discusses the lessons to be learned from the coronavirus pandemic in this TPA Talks special episode.

Why is free speech under fire in 21st century Britain? We speak to Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, about the rise of disinformation, the role of social media, cancel culture on campuses, 'woke' Whitehall, and more in this episode of TPA Talks!

Former BBC journalist and executive Robin Aitken joins us for this episode of TPA Talks. Drawing upon his 25 year tenure, Robin discusses political biases, out-of-touch attitudes and waste of licence fee payers' money at the Beeb, and explains why he thinks now is the time to axe the TV tax for good!

In this episode of TPA Talks, we chat to Lee Anderson MP about the issues that matter to working-class taxpayers. As a former Labour councillor turned Conservative MP who won his seat as part of the "red wall" phenomenon of the 2019 general election, Anderson offers a unique insight into the issues of the day; tackling everything from culture wars to council tax.

Andrea Leadsom MP and journalist and presenter Georgie Frost join us for this live episode of TPA Talks as we break down the Budget!

TPA Talks makes a triumphant return in 2021 with renowned broadcaster and journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer. Drawing on her experience at the forefront of talkRADIO and political commentary, we discuss the changing face of British media, holding politicians to account through the coronavirus crisis, why some people are losing faith in mainstream journalism, and more!

Our chief executive, John O'Connell, and our chairman, Mike Denham, break down the Spending Review in the first-ever live broadcast episode of TPA Talks!

Renowned American author and journalist Lionel Shriver joins us on this episode of TPA Talks to discuss the US election. Shriver offers her thoughts on why Americans decided not to re-elect Donald Trump, what a Biden presidency means for the social and fiscal landscape of America, and how these events will affect us in the UK. This podcast was recorded on the 12th November.

Renowned education reformer Katharine Birbalsingh CBE joins us for this episode of TPA Talks. Drawing on her experience founding Michaela Community School in London, Birbalsingh explains the difference between traditional and progressive schooling, the importance of responsibility and choice, why free schools work, and more!

In this special episode of TPA Talks, we host a roundtable of experts to discuss the TPA’s latest research paper evaluating the UK health system (pre-coronavirus) in comparison to that of other developed nations. This bold and important conversation will be of great interest to those looking for a balanced and pragmatic evaluation of the NHS, particularly at a time when public health is at the for...

In this episode of TPA Talks, we chat to Leo Kearse, the award-winning Scottish comedian who has made a name for himself as a "right-wing" comic. We discuss the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the problems Leo sees in the BBC, politics in comedy and more!

We talk to Barry Hearn, legendary sports promoter and entrepreneur, in this episode of TPA Talks! The Matchroom Sport president pulls no punches when talking about the BBC's outdated business model, how organisations must adapt to the post-coronavirus world, and how the government needs to remove burdens on business.

In this episode of TPA Talks, we speak to fiercely outspoken MP Andrea Jenkyns. Jenkyns is perhaps best known for raising her head above the parapet in the Brexit debate, but now has a new target in sight - the BBC. In this fascinating instalment, Jenkyns discusses BBC bias, why the licence fee is grossly outdated and why this government is well-placed to reform the BBC. We also touch upon Brexit...

Following Sadiq Khan's appearance at the transport select committee last week, in which the mayor denied that the number of TfL staff receiving over £100,000 in total remuneration a year had risen under his watch, we focus our attention to his mayoralty and ask the question - is he spending taxpayers' money wisely?  Political YouTuber and Londoner Mahyar Tousi joins us for this special episod...

In this episode of TPA Talks, we chat to Daniel Hannan. Hannan is the founding president of the Institute for Free Trade, an author, a journalist for The Telegraph and former MEP.  We discuss the TV licence, the government's response to coronavirus, tax cuts, universities, the trajectory of the Labour Party and more!