Hosted by TaxPayers’ Alliance
Tuesday, 7th October | 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Britain’s welfare state has become a way of life for some while taxpayers shell out billions of pounds every year. How can we reform welfare and get people back into work, while ensuring those truly in need get the help they deserve? Which sacred cows need to be slain?
Speakers:
John O’Connell, chief executive, Taxpayers’ Alliance (Chair)
John joined the TPA as an intern in 2009. Since then he has worked at every level of the organisation which made him uniquely qualified to become Chief Executive beginning August 2016. As a researcher, and later Research Director, he wrote major reports for the TPA on quangos, government capital procurement, regional business policy and local government pensions. He co-authored the influential paper How to Save £50 Billion: reducing spending for sustainable public finances, released in conjunction with the Institute of Directors. John oversaw the work of the 2020 Tax Commission. He also wrote and edited several sections of its final report, The Single Income Tax, which won the Templeton Freedom Award from the Atlas Network.
Miriam Cates, presenter, GB News
Miriam was the member of parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge 2019 to 2024. She studied at Cambridge University before going on to teach Chemistry and Biology at a Sheffield secondary school. Miriam currently presents Britain’s Newsroom on GB News every weekday morning.
Edward Davies, research director, Centre for Social Justice
Edward is research director at the Centre for Social Justice. Before joining the CSJ in 2016 Edward spent 15 years in health policy as a journalist, editor, and policy wonk. He also worked for national newspapers and journals in the UK and US. Edward spent two years in government as an expert advisor to the Health Secretary from 2021-2023, before returning to the CSJ.
Reem Ibrahim, head of media and Linda Whetstone scholar, Institute of Economic Affairs
Reem is the Head of Media and Linda Whetstone Scholar at the Institute of Economic Affairs. She regularly appears on television and radio, including the BBC, LBC, GB News, TalkTV and more, and has written for various national press including the Telegraph, the Spectator, CityAM, the Express and others. Reem has a particular interest in consumer choice, and is the co-author of “A Vapid Solution: Why a ban on disposable vapes would be a failure of law enforcement”. Reem is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science..
Helen Whately MP, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions
Helen is the member of parliament for Faversham and Mid-Kent and shadow secretary of state for work and pensions. During the last government, Helen served as a minister of state in the department of health and social care between 2020 and 2021 then again from October 2022 to July 2024. She was also exchequer secretary to the treasury from 2021 – 2022. Helen graduated from Oxford university and trained as a management accountant at PWC before joining AOL Time Warner. Helen then spent almost a decade working in healthcare consultancy.
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