TV personality Gary Lineker has been urged to "put his money where his mouth is" and make a voluntary payment to the Treasury if he wishes to pay more tax. Lineker, along with over 100 other wealthy individuals, signed a letter organized by Patriotic Millionaires UK, expressing a desire for higher taxation on the affluent. The letter stated, "We want you to tax us. We can afford it."
Senior Treasury minister Kemi Badenoch responded by stating that there is "nothing stopping" Lineker from writing a check to the Treasury, noting a link on the government website, gov.uk, that outlines how individuals can make voluntary tax contributions. Badenoch cautioned, however, that increasing taxes on investors could harm the broader economy.
"Right now, we are seeing the people who create jobs leaving the country," Badenoch said at a press conference. "If we keep taxing the people who create the jobs, who generate the growth, we're not going to have any taxes at all. So, Gary Lineker can increase whatever he wants to pay. What I want to do is increase our standard of living. Tax rises do not increase our standard of living. Backing business so that they can create jobs and create growth will increase our standard of living, and that's how you deal with the cost of living."
Other figures echoed this sentiment. Shimeon Lee, a policy analyst at the TaxPayers' Alliance, suggested that Lineker could "write a cheque to the Treasury today and put his money where his mouth is." He criticized the campaign as "virtue signalling" and warned that a wealth tax could drive wealth out of the country.
Reform UK shadow chancellor Robert Jenrick and Tory MP Louie French also suggested that Lineker and other signatories should pay voluntarily, with French criticizing what he called "virtue signallers" and wealth fleeing Britain.
The gov.uk website provides guidance for individuals and businesses wishing to make voluntary contributions to HM Government, which can be made via bank transfer to the Treasury for public spending or to the Debt Management Office to reduce national debt. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds welcomed such sentiments, stating, "I welcome the fact that people of good means are saying that they want to pay more. They can pay more. There is a link on gov.uk."
Julian Jessop, economics fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, described voluntary donations as a poor idea, arguing that additional revenues might not be well-spent and that direct donations to charities would be more effective. He suggested the campaign was primarily an exercise in "virtue signalling" and an attempt to pressure the government into imposing higher taxes on others.
Adam Craggs, a partner at law firm RPC, confirmed that individuals are legally able to make voluntary contributions to the government, rendering campaigns for increased taxes or wealth taxes unnecessary as the mechanism already exists.
Lineker, estimated to be worth £30 million, stated, "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." He added, "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."
The Patriotic Millionaires UK letter advocated for using "extreme wealth sitting idle in the hands of a few" to reduce inequality and improve public services. While not specifying a policy, the group's stance aligns with long-standing calls for measures like an annual levy on the assets of the super-rich. Academics have previously suggested that a 2% charge on assets exceeding £100 million could raise £10 billion annually. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, previously stated he would not rule out wealth taxes, emphasizing the need for greater fairness.