More than 100 UK millionaires ask new PM Andy Burnham to tax them more

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that 120 millionaires in the United Kingdom have urged newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham to raise taxes on the very wealthy, saying they are prepared to contribute more to help fund national investment. The appeal was made in a “Proud to Pay” open letter published Thursday, July 23, 2026, by a group calling itself Patriotic Millionaires. Signatories named in the report include former footballer and broadcaster Gary Lineker and actress Julia Davies.

The group argued that wealth and influence have been held by too few people for too long, with damaging effects on the country, democracy, the environment and living standards. They said higher taxes on wealth could help reduce inequality, improve public infrastructure and support small businesses. Lineker, quoted in the statement, framed paying more as a matter of fairness at a time when many households are under financial pressure.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds told Sky News she welcomed wealthy people saying they wanted to pay more, but did not signal an immediate policy shift. She said the government was only in its fourth day and that major tax decisions would be set out at a budget. Al Jazeera also noted Burnham has suggested his government may ask for “a little bit more” in tax, potentially including a wealth tax, as part of a broader fairness agenda.

For context, the report cited research by economists Gabriel Zucman and Ben Tippet estimating that a 2 percent minimum annual tax on UK residents with more than £100m in assets could raise about £10bn annually. Patriotic Millionaires separately estimated a 2 percent levy above £10m could raise £24bn, with capital gains reforms adding another £12bn.