Millionaires including former footballer Gary Lineker and music producer Brian Eno have written to new prime minister Andy Burnham asking to be taxed more.<\/p>\n
In an open letter, 120 well-off Britons told Burnham: “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.”<\/p>\n
Organised by Patriotic Millionaires, the letter said it would lead to a more equal society, and urged a “devolution of wealth and power from the very richest”. <\/p>\n
People can already give money or stocks voluntarily to the Treasury using its donation facility.<\/p>\n
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Lineker is “very welcome to pay more tax he can write a cheque to the treasury, no one is stopping him.”<\/p>\n
The group supports a 2% tax on wealth over \u00a310m.<\/p>\n
“Millionaires are a patriotic bunch,” the letter states. “We love this country and we want it to succeed.<\/p>\n
“But success requires investment and a primary source of untouched capital investment is sitting with us, in untaxed potential.”<\/p>\n
Other signatories include Richard Curtis, director of Notting Hill and Love Actually and Ian Gregg, the former managing director of Greggs and son of the bakery chain’s founder.<\/p>\n
The renewed call for higher tax on the wealthy follows a similar campaign in previous years.<\/a> <\/p>\n