 The group was founded by Matthew Elliott who founded Eurosceptic think tank Business for Britain as well as Conservative Friends of Russia, Big Brother Watch NOtoAV campaign in the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum and in 2015, Elliot became the chief executive of Vote Leave.The TPA was founded in 2004 by "a group of 'libertarian' Conservatives, frustrated by what they saw as the party's decision to ditch its traditional tax cutting message.