By Blair Gibbs, TPA Regional Campaign Manager
The TaxPayers’ Alliance is gaining more support by the day and is expanding across the country, with plans for regional branches across the UK over the next year.
One of the main reasons we are launching regional campaigns is so that we are much better placed to break through the regional media (who rightly prefer local contacts for their stories) and to communicate more effectively with our growing band of supporters. We will also be in a much better position to spot wasteful spending, and to jump on local political issues as soon as they arise, holding all our local politicians, councils and regional quangos to account, just as much as Whitehall. We also realise that there is a limit to what a London office can do, and over the long term, the strength of the TPA campaign depends on mass membership and the organic growth of local groups – many of whom will come to operate autonomously and without central direction.
We are well into the planning of the West Midlands campaign, which before long will have a small office and a full-time staff member based in Birmingham to run the campaign locally day-to-day. While all the TPA’s regional campaigns share the same principles, each will be unique, with a focus on the issues that most concern the people and businesses of each region. We anticipate that fuel duty, congestion charging and business taxes, will be a strong priority in the West Midlands.
After our February launch (more details to follow…), we will be holding meetings, advertising the cause and organising direct mail efforts to spread our message. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the West Midlands TPA, or would like to register as a volunteer to help the campaign on the ground as we grow (by delivering leaflets or helping to organise local meetings), email blair.gibbs@taxpayersalliance.com
