a nation of taxpayers

A podcast from the Taxpayers' Alliance. Talking politics and highlighting waste in all forms of government and the public sector. Presented by Duncan Barkes with guests from the Taxpayers' Alliance and from across the world of politics.On X, follow the TaxPayers' Alliance @the_tpa More links and info here: https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/

a nation of taxpayers is a news podcast hosted by Duncan Barkes, with 95 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Duncan Barkes hosts a nation of taxpayers, a news show with 95 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #31

  £660m Lost: Shock Cost of Council Sickness

  Aug 20, 202631 minS2

  Staff sickness and absence are costing councils millions, yet town halls keep demanding more money while too little attention is paid to lost working time and weak productivity. Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's William Yarwood and Shimeon Lee to discuss new TaxPayers' Alliance research into sickness absence across UK local authorities, revealing the cost to council budgets and the impact on frontline services. They examine why absence rates vary so widely between councils, how mental health-related absence has become a growing pressure, and what high levels of staff sickness mean for residents already facing rising council tax bills. They also discuss the wider public sector sickness and productivity problem.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #30

  Labour's War On Tourism

  Aug 13, 202629 minS2

  Tourist hotspots in Wales are about to be clobbered by the Welsh government's introduction of a holiday tax which will be levied against those wishing to stay overnight in a town or village. The TPA has been raising awareness of this pernicious tax in places like Conwy and Anglesey. Outside of Wales, the Labour government under Andy Burnham is introducing legislation that will enable regional mayors to levy a similar tax on overnight visitors to their towns and cities. Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Benjamin Elks and Jonathan Eida to discuss the impact of such taxes and the devastating consequences it will have on UK tourism.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #29

  Will Britain Ever Work Again?

  Aug 6, 202629 minS2

  There are over one million 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training. Commonly known as NEETs, this group in society is a strain on public finances and the taxpayer. Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Shimeon Lee and Georgiana Bristol, chief executive at the Jobs Foundation. Together they discuss the challenges of getting NEETs and others into work. They also look at what can be done to make it easier for UK businesses to offer jobs to those wanting to start their working life and whether it is too easy for some to claim that they are unable to work.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #28

  Exposing Britain's NHS Manager Fat Cats

  Jul 30, 202629 minS2

  The NHS keeps demanding more money, but patients are still stuck on waiting lists while senior managers take home bumper pay packets. Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Jonathan Eida and Anne Strickland to discuss the latest NHS Rich List, which reveals 574 NHS bosses now earn more than the prime minister and the number receiving at least £300,000 in total remuneration has more than doubled in a year. They examine soaring executive pay, poor performance at some of the worst-performing trusts, and why ministers must follow through on promises to link pay to results. From A&E delays to referral-to-treatment waiting times, they ask whether taxpayers and patients are getting value for money from the NHS management class.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #27

  Will Burnham Bankrupt Britain?

  Jul 23, 202636 minS2

  Britain is already weighed down by record taxes, soaring debt interest and a bloated state that politicians seem unwilling to reform. Now Andy Burnham has entered Downing Street with a long spending wishlist, a record of raising local charges and a promise of a new economic model. But who will pay for it? Podcast host Duncan Barkes is joined by the TPA's Darwin Friend and William Yarwood to discuss whether Burnham's plans risk pushing Britain's public finances even further towards the brink. They examine his record in Greater Manchester, the growing pressure for wealth taxes and higher borrowing, and what the new prime minister must do to avoid bankrupting Britain.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on a nation of taxpayers. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.