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World Economy
Mar 25, 2026

New Green Thinktank Proposes 'Doge of the Left' to Save UK Taxpayers £30bn

AI Summary
A new green thinktank, Verdant, suggests that a 'Doge of the left' could save UK taxpayers up to £30bn a year by tackling waste, fraud, and tax avoidance.

A newly launched green thinktank, Verdant, proposes that a 'Doge of the left' could save UK taxpayers up to £30bn annually by rooting out waste, fraud, and tax avoidance. This initiative is part of a broader effort to influence the future manifesto of the Green Party, led by Zack Polanski.

The thinktank, co-chaired by James Meadway, a former adviser to Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and civil society campaigner Deborah Doane, argues that a crackdown on waste could free up significant resources. This approach differs from the ideologically driven methods of Elon Musk's former Department of Government Efficiency in the US.

Meadway emphasized that the political right has monopolized discussions about savings in government spending, leading to disastrous effects. He stated that a 'Doge of the left' would focus on eliminating tax avoiders, profiteers, and fraudsters, ultimately delivering high-quality public services.

The report suggests several measures, including:

  • Appointing a 'chief savings officer' to identify waste and fraud.
  • Granting the National Audit Office the power to halt overspending projects.
  • Opening public procurement to more transparent competition.
  • Establishing an internal consultancy function to reduce reliance on costly private consultants.

The proposed £30bn in savings is largely based on independent estimates of annual losses due to fraud, waste, under-collection of tax, and lack of competition in procurement. Additionally, Verdant recommends scrapping £3.6bn in tax reliefs and government support for oil and gas producers.

Polanski's economic policy speech last week highlighted sweeping changes, including rent caps and a new wealth tax. He also emphasized the importance of protecting consumers from rising energy prices and expressed skepticism about using GDP as a measure of economic performance.