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Lineker Leads Millionaires' Call for £10 m Wealth Levy

7/23/2026

48 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Minister Andy Burnham received a letter from Gary Lineker and 120 millionaires urging a levy on wealth above £10 million.
Lineker, worth £30 million, said paying a share reflects British values.
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch called the appeal virtue signalling and urged a cheque, while the Treasury said tax change will wait for Autumn Budget and economists estimate a 2 percent levy could raise £24 billion.

History

Historical Context

When New Labour won in 1997, Tony Blair’s government levied a 23% windfall tax on privatised utilities, raising about £5 billion for the New Deal programme. Later, Labour introduced a 50% top-rate on incomes over £150,000 in 2010, later cut to 45%. Andy Burnham’s current wealth-levy proposal, backed by Gary Lineker, revives that long-standing debate over taxing the richest.

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Story summary

Minister Andy Burnham received a letter from Gary Lineker and 120 millionaires urging a levy on wealth above £10 million.
Lineker, worth £30 million, said paying a share reflects British values.
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch called the appeal virtue signalling and urged a cheque, while the Treasury said tax change will wait for Autumn Budget and economists estimate a 2 percent levy could raise £24 billion.

1 / 2