More than 100 UK-based millionaires, including former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, have signed a letter urging new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to tax their wealth. Organised by the group Patriotic Millionaires UK, the letter called for higher taxes on the very richest in the UK, not on everyday workers.
Burnham's Stance on Wealth Tax
Mr Burnham has previously suggested he backed a wealth tax, and recently claimed his government may have “to ask for a little more” from the richest. Before entering No10 earlier this week, he did not rule out a wealth tax in an interview. He said: “I’m not going rule things out right now. I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.”
Proposed Tax Details
Patriotic Millionaires, along with the group Tax Justice UK, are proposing an annual 2% tax on wealth above £10 million. Tax Justice UK says it would affect around 20,000 people in the UK – fewer than 0.04% of the population.
Gary Lineker's Comments
Lineker, who added his name to the letter of 120 millionaires, said: “Our fantastic country deserves all of us to get behind it. I’m proud to stand with people across the UK who want to live in a more equal society.” He added: “Paying your fair share is a basic British value, but so many ordinary people are already paying more than they can afford. Our richest people can do more and most want to. To live up to our national values our new government must raise taxes on extreme levels of wealth for a fairer, better, more hopeful Britain.”
Political Reactions
Wes Streeting, who was appointed Defence Secretary earlier this week, called for this measure when he quit Keir Starmer’s Cabinet in May, saying it was a “wealth tax that works”.
