‘Doge of the left’ could save UK taxpayers up to £30bn, says new green thinktank
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A new green thinktank, Verdant, launched by James Meadway and Deborah Doane, proposes a "Doge of the left" approach to save UK taxpayers up to £30 billion annually. The thinktank's first report argues that focusing on eliminating waste, fraud, and tax avoidance, rather than ideologically driven cuts, can free up significant resources. Verdant suggests appointing a "chief savings officer" and empowering the National Audit Office to halt overspending projects. The report also advocates for transparent public procurement and an internal consultancy function to reduce reliance on costly private consultants. While Verdant's ideas could be adopted by any party, they appear keen to influence the Green party's manifesto, as the party gains traction in polls. The proposed savings aim to address scrutiny from bond markets, given the UK's national debt.
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AI-ExtractedBreaking the false economies of Treasury thinking and vested Whitehall interests are an essential.
Verdant says tax reliefs and other government support for oil and gas producers, worth £3.6bn a year, should be scrapped.
The ambitious £30bn in savings mooted by the thinktank is largely made up of independent estimates.
Polanski’s Greens drawing ahead of Labour in some polls.
A “Doge of the left,” could save up to £30bn a year for taxpayers by rooting out waste, fraud and tax avoidance.
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