TaxPayers’ Alliance responds to National Audit Office report into UK Research and Innovation
Embargoed: 00:01, Wednesday 14th May 2025
Responding to the National Audit Office report into UK Research and Innovation, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
“This damning report from the NAO makes official what the British public already knew - ministers have lost control of UKRI as it squanders money on crackpot schemes and divisive ideological research.
“Serious failings in oversight and reporting at UKRI combined with a lack of direction from government departments leave taxpayers seriously exposed to fraud and waste.
“Ministers need to urgently get a grip of this runaway quango to ensure every penny of funding is going towards high quality research which delivers results for taxpayers.”
TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Media contact:
William Yarwood
Media Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
william.yarwood@taxpayersalliance.com
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Notes to editors:
- Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
- TaxPayers' Alliance's research council.
- This is a response to a press release sent out by the National Audit Office embargoed for 00:01 on Wednesday 14th May. The NAO can be contacted on pressoffice@nao.org.uk
- The TPA recently revealed that spending on quangos as a percentage of total public sector spending increased from 13.2 per cent in 2012-13 to 29.6 per cent in 2022-23
- The TPA is running a campaign called “Britain’s Quangos Uncovered.” Find out more here.