Gary Lineker is among 120 millionaires who have written to the new prime minister, Andy Burnham, demanding to be taxed more. In an open letter organised by the group Patriotic Millionaires, the former England footballer and other wealthy signatories including music producer Brian Eno and film writer Richard Curtis 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.”
The letter, which also includes Scottish crime writer Val McDermid, former financial trader Gary Stevenson and Ian Gregg, the former managing director of Greggs, argues that higher taxes on the super-rich would lead to a “more equal society” and urged a “devolution of wealth and power from the very richest”. Patriotic Millionaires support a 2% tax on wealth over £10m.
“120 millionaires including Gary Lineker ask new PM Andy Burnham to tax them more, saying 'we can afford it'.”
“Millionaires are a patriotic bunch,” the letter states. “We love this country and we want it to succeed. But success requires investment and a primary source of untouched capital investment is sitting with us, in untaxed potential.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch responded by pointing out that wealthy individuals can already give money voluntarily to the Treasury using a donation facility. “Gary Lineker is very welcome to pay more tax, he can write a cheque to the Treasury, no one is stopping him,” she said.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said she would welcome UK millionaires increasing the amount of tax they pay but said any major changes would be announced during a Budget. “I welcome the fact that people of good means are saying that they want to pay more. They can pay more,” she said, also referencing the Treasury’s donation link.
Burnham did not rule out a wealth tax when asked about it by Lineker – formerly the BBC’s highest paid presenter – a few days before becoming prime minister. He suggested he may have “to ask for a little more” tax at some point. Lineker, who was paid around £1.3m a year before leaving the BBC and is worth a reported £30m, won an appeal against HMRC in 2023 over a £4.9m tax bill.
The renewed call for higher tax on the wealthy follows similar campaigns in previous years. The letter added that in its own poll, the majority of millionaires wanted higher taxes on themselves. Whether Burnham will act on the request remains unclear, but the letter signals a growing pressure from the wealthy themselves to address inequality.