UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Faces Call from 120 Millionaires to Raise Taxes on the Rich

A group of 120 British millionaires, organized as the Patriotic Millionaires, sent an open letter to newly‑appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging the introduction of a wealth tax. The letter, titled “Proud to Pay,” proposes a 2 % levy on assets above £10 million, which the group estimates could raise about £24 billion a year for the Treasury. Signatories include former footballer Gary Lineker, filmmaker Richard Curtis, entrepreneur Julia Davies and musician Brian Eno.

Burnham, who has recently indicated interest in a wealth‑tax measure, has not yet committed to the proposal. Treasury Deputy Minister Emma Reynolds responded that she welcomes wealthy individuals wanting to pay more, but said any policy change remains under review and could involve reinstating the top income‑tax rate of 50% that was dropped in 2013. The proposal also highlights challenges such as the lack of a central registry of high‑net‑worth assets in the UK and concerns about capital flight.