Gary Lineker, the England striker turned TV commentator, is among 120 millionaires who have signed a letter urging the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to increase taxes on their wealth. The group, organized by Patriotic Millionaires UK, stated in the letter that they are "proud to pay and here to stay."
Lineker, whose wealth is estimated at £30 million, expressed his support for the initiative, stating that "paying your fair share is a basic British value." He added that while many ordinary people are struggling, the wealthiest individuals can contribute more, and most are willing to do so. "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," he said.
Other notable signatories include musician Brian Eno, crime writer Val McDermid, and economist Gary Stevenson. The letter specifies a preference for increased taxes on wealth rather than on income earned through daily work. The signatories advocate for taxing "the very richest whose income is derived from the wealth they hold" to address inequality and enhance public services.
While the letter does not propose a specific policy, there have been previous calls, including from former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, for an annual levy on the assets of the wealthy. Academics have suggested that a 2% charge on assets exceeding £100 million could generate approximately £10 billion annually.
When questioned by Lineker last week about the possibility of a wealth tax, Prime Minister Burnham indicated that he was "not going rule things out right now," while emphasizing his belief in the need for "a greater sense of fairness."