Those tortured souls who study the Kremlinology of Westminster think-tanks had some rare excitement last night. Out went Matthew Sinclair as the Chief Executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA), the tax cutting campaigners, and up stepped Jonathan Isaby, once of the Telegraph and ConservativeHome, to replace him. Isaby was political director at the TPA. John O’Connell, who is fresh from the TPA’s successful lobbying campaign against fuel duty and beer taxes, becomes overall director.
Matthew Elliott, the group’s founder, announced the news this morning. ‘The next election is shaping up to be one of the closest in living memory, and I’m pleased that the TPA will be in good hands over the crucial eighteen months running up to 7 May 2015,’ he said.
But, are the times really a-changing at the TPA? Elliott stepped aside for Sinclair before the AV referendum in 2011. Sources from within the organisation have told me of Elliott’s continued ‘back seat driver mentality’. His inability to let go is rumoured to have been a point of tension between the two men.
Mr Steerpike put the allegations to Elliott. He replied:
‘Complete rubbish. Matt Sinclair’s done a first class job as Chief Exec. Obviously Matt’s position was slightly different to mine in the sense that I was founder and Matt reported to the Board; but, at the end of the day, everyone pulls in the same direction.’
So there you have it, wonk-world watchers. Incidentally, Elliott never had a leaving do…
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