Gary Lineker, along with over 100 wealthy individuals in the UK, has penned a letter to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to impose taxes on their wealth. The Patriotic Millionaires group organized the letter, emphasizing the need for the richest individuals to contribute more through taxes derived from their wealth, not from daily income earners.

Among the signatories are former England striker Lineker, Ian Gregg, the ex-chairman of Greggs sausage roll chain, and renowned film director Richard Curtis. The list also includes Scottish author Val McDermid, former City trader Gary Stevenson, and climate expert Michael Berners-Lee.

Lineker expressed his pride in supporting a more equal society and emphasized the importance of wealthy individuals paying their fair share to uphold British values. The Patriotic Millionaires proposed a 2% tax on assets exceeding £10 million to potentially generate £24 billion for the Treasury.

The group highlighted that only a fraction of the population, approximately 0.04% or 20,000 people, would be affected by such a tax. The Patriotic Millionaires also suggested that imposing a wealth tax could fund significant public services, such as education and social welfare programs.

While Burnham did not rule out the possibility of a wealth tax, some Labour officials have differing views on the matter. Streeting, the current Defence Secretary, supported equalizing capital gains tax with income tax, citing it as an effective wealth tax. Reynolds, the Business Secretary, dismissed the idea of a wealth tax as “daft,” noting existing tax measures on the wealthy.

Critics of a wealth tax have raised concerns about potential tax evasion by the super-rich. However, a survey by Patriotic Millionaires revealed that a majority of millionaires are willing to pay more taxes to support essential services and social initiatives.

Overall, the letter from wealthy individuals advocates for a fairer distribution of wealth and emphasizes the potential benefits of taxing extreme wealth to address societal inequalities and support national development.