UKpopdems Policy Funding

This page sets out to clearly define UKpopdems management of Britain's fiscal position for the benefit and wealth of the people and the country. In summary, our first term policies are not only achievable and affordable, but have been designed to leave HM Exchequer in surplus ready for possible tax cuts in the following term should the people decide so in a public vote. (See Tax policy).

In government, we have pledged not to raise taxes in real terms. All UKpopdems policy pledges are guaranteed by strong and independent regulation. If any tax changes, outside those published in the manifesto are required during office, these will only be made by reference to the British people and with their agreement. (See Democracy policy). There will be no spinning or double counting by our Chancellor on tax. All statements of fact will be made by senior civil servants rather than politicians. (See policy on Politics).

Instead of raising taxes, UKpopdems intend to deliver policy commitments by redirecting expenditure away from government back-office functions and resources, and towards front-line delivery resources and supporting infrastructure. Over the long term, spending on back-office bureaucracy, administration and management will reduce, as near as possible, to just 20%-30% of what we spend on front-line delivery resources. (See Bureaucracy policy). The reduction in back-line staff will happen through natural public sector turnover. UKpopdems target reduction will be 7% a year until sustainable levels are reached. There will be no redundancies and we will not penalise dedicated public sector employees when the real culprit is bad management by past and present governments.

UKpopdems will also create funds for our policies by identifying and reducing waste. No government in history has wasted so much tax payers' money as this present one; hundreds of costly quangos, failed IT systems, Whitehall bureaucracy, botched initiatives, red tape, foreign junkets, disastrous policy rethinks, Local Authority profligacy, expensive outsourcing of services, excruciatingly costly consultancy, not to mention press officers and spin doctors in every public sector department. Taken together, waste and back-office bureaucracy could add up to £200 billion every year. UKpopdems never forget this is your money and should be spent on the projects and policies that the British people want, rather than what politicians dream up.

It will take a little time to fully identify what is waste and what is beneficial; what resources are back-office and which are front-line delivery. This job needs to be done carefully to avoid hurt and damage. However, in our first year, we fully anticipate being able to redirect at least £20 billion extra to front-line resources and infrastructure; and to raise this to £100 billion extra in our fifth year of office. To release funds immediately and get started on programmes that bring the most benefit possible, we may need to temporarily freeze back-office administrative IT systems and internal consultancy projects, dissolve many quangos and stop other obviously wasteful programmes. These will be categorised in our first few days of office.

Policy Funding Chart Graphic

UKpopdems will not be driven off-course or bamboozled by Whitehall bureaucrats in our drive to benefit ordinary Britons. We'll recruit up to a million extra front-line delivery specialists to combat crime; improve social services, education and health; reduce and control immigration; strengthen security and the armed forces, boost international aid and other programmes. Nor will we step back from building more prisons, new specialist schools, new community hospitals; new and safer roads; acquiring the best defence equipment and expanding public transport.

As well as being able to implement all UKpopdems community, democratic and international policies within existing tax revenue, our economic policies are designed to produce a healthy fiscal balance capable of sustaining future tax cuts. Our plan to eliminate corporation tax will attract large numbers of highly profitable companies into Britain and thus greatly increase employment opportunities for all Britons who need work. Innovative programmes such as sure health (see health policy), safe pensions (see pensions), right to work (see work) and very high earners discretionary contribution (see tax policy) will not only save revenue but also guarantee better living standards, employment, health and dignity for everyone. Eliminating the litigation culture (see litigation) will set individuals, organisers, workers and businesses free and reduce legal and insurance costs. And our plan to eliminate a whole tier of government at local authority level (see local government) in favour of strengthened Parish and local community councils will not only improve democracy, but allow the efficient channelling of funding directly to the people who need it most and can make the best use of it.

UKpopdems Funding Model October 2007

Total Costs : £154bn; Total savings : £174bn; Surplus/contingency: £20bn