British Millionaires Volunteer for Increased Taxation Under New Leadership
Ninoda.com – A coalition of affluent Britons has formally requested that the government raise taxes on the wealthiest citizens. The open letter, addressed to newly appointed prime minister Andy Burnham, was organized by the Patriotic Millionaires campaign and signed by 120 individuals from various professional backgrounds.
Notable Signatories Join the Movement
The letter features signatures from prominent figures across entertainment, business, and literature. Former BBC presenter Gary Lineker appears alongside music producer Brian Eno, crime novelist Val McDermid, and financial campaigner Gary Stevenson. Richard Curtis, known for directing Notting Hill, and Ian Gregg, former managing director of Greggs and son of the bakery’s founder, also endorsed the initiative.
We can afford it. We’re not talking about higher taxes on those who get up and go to work for their income every day, but on the very richest whose income is derived from the wealth they hold.
The signatories emphasize that their proposal targets accumulated wealth rather than earned income. They argue that a redistribution of resources would create a more equitable society and facilitate what they describe as a “devolution of wealth and power from the very richest.”
Current Options and Proposed Changes
British citizens already have the ability to make voluntary contributions to the Treasury through a dedicated donation platform. However, the Patriotic Millionaires are advocating for structural reform, specifically supporting a 2% levy on assets exceeding £10 million.
Millionaires are a patriotic bunch. We love this country and we want it to succeed. But success requires investment and a primary source of untouched capital investment is sitting with us, in untaxed potential.
The campaign’s latest statement highlights that their own polling indicates most millionaires favor increased personal taxation. The letter criticizes those with “outdated economic thinking” who resist change, suggesting such individuals lack vision for Britain’s future development.
Political Responses and Context
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch offered a straightforward response to Lineker’s public stance. She noted that the former footballer is “very welcome to pay more tax he can write a cheque to the Treasury, no one is stopping him.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds expressed openness to the proposal while noting that substantial policy shifts would be detailed in an upcoming Budget. She acknowledged that “people of good means are saying that they want to pay more” and reiterated the availability of the Treasury’s donation mechanism.
Burnham has not dismissed the possibility of implementing a wealth tax. When questioned by Lineker—previously the BBC’s highest-paid presenter—just days before assuming the premiership, he indicated he might “have to ask for a little more” in taxation at some point. Lineker, whose reported net worth stands at £30 million, earned approximately £1.3 million annually during his tenure at the BBC.
The renewed push for higher levies on the affluent builds upon campaigns launched in previous years. The Patriotic Millionaires’ current statement calls for reinvestment into regional assets, arguing that wealth must flow “from the very richest in order to reinvest back into our greatest asset in every region.”
