A huge new poll of more than 45,000 people has found raising taxes on the super-wealthy is the public’s third most popular demand to Keir Starmer
Millionaires are backing calls for Keir Starmer to introduce a a wealth tax on the richest(Image: PA Wire)
A top priority of the British people is for Keir Starmer to impose a wealth tax on the richest.
Labour has resisted increasing calls to raise levies on the super-wealthy as a way of boosting the Treasury’s coffers and balancing the books.
But in what has been dubbed the Giga Poll of more than 45,000 people on the issue, it was the third most popular demand of the public.
Three-quarters of those surveyed say wealthy people are getting richer while poorer people are falling further behind. Only 7% disagree. And four out of 10 Britons said a new wealth tax was top of their priority list in the poll commissioned by green entrepreneur Dale Vince.
He has actively called for himself and others to be taxed more, and explained he wanted the question to be put to the widest possible number of people.
He said: “I’m delighted that myself, and other campaigners, have been vindicated by the public’s support to get the rich – and that includes myself – taxed more. We’ve a massive hole in the public finances and it needs to be resolved by those with the deepest pockets paying their fair share of taxes.”
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Mr Vince, one of Britain’s biggest taxpayers, has called for a tax of 2% on assets of more than £10million that would generate £24billion a year and would impact only 20,000 people.
He added: “If millionaires don’t want to pay up, they should go. I think there’s an imbalance in our tax system. The more money you have, the less tax you pay. I think that’s wrong. We have extreme poverty in our country. Our tax system was written by rich people for rich people.”
Fears that public spending will be slashed across Whitehall departments have increased as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal headroom has become tighter. Depressingly grim reading for the government will be how desperate people feel about the state of their personal finances.
An alarming four in 10 people think they will get worse, with only a quarter believing their situation will improve.
Another shocking statistic from the polling is how many people feel their daily lives are impacted by their struggle to pay the bills – and are tragically forced to skip meals.
Some 9% feel financially desperate, with people polled saying: “I currently cannot afford essentials such as food, rent or mortgage. I am already taking extreme measures such as skipping meals or missing rent payments.”
One in four feel worried about their financial future, explaining they are currently keeping up with essential payments, but fear they will not be able to soon if things continue as they are. They also cannot afford luxuries.
Meanwhile, 30% of Britons feel like they are getting by, but making cutbacks. They say they can afford the essentials but are “having to cut back on luxuries and the things that make life enjoyable”.
Almost the same amount say they feel comfortable, and say they have enough money to afford essentials and save for a rainy day. They can also enjoy some luxuries, if careful with their budget.
Finally, 5% feel well-off, saying they do not need to worry about money and can usually afford both essentials and luxuries, as well as save money.
Lawyer and philanthropist Julia Davies, member of the Patriotic Millionaires UK network, said: “Everyone deserves to live decent lives – not just the wealthiest few. Working people have paid their fair share for long enough, now it’s time for the super-rich to step up and start contributing properly to the society that made their wealth possible.”
Stephen Kinsella, also a member of PMUK, said: “Our country is crumbling while the wealth of a few increases. We all know the system is designed by and for the very rich, and that has to change.
“Why would the government resist such a necessary and popular measure? We need a wealth tax now.”
Phil White, also a PMUK member, said: “A wealth tax is the patriotic thing our country is crying out for. It would raise £24bn a year to fix our economy and public services, give the next generation a better future and show that the wealthy are prepared to do their bit. Forget painting flags on roundabouts, this is what will unite our kingdom.”
