Gary Lineker and approximately 120 wealthy Britons signed an open letter asking Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce a wealth tax [1].
The move highlights a growing debate over income inequality and the role of the ultra-wealthy in funding public services. By calling for higher taxes on millionaires, the group aims to shift the financial burden away from ordinary workers and toward those with the greatest capacity to pay.
The letter was publicized in June 2026, shortly before Andy Burnham took office as Prime Minister [2]. Among the signatories are Lineker, a former footballer and TV presenter, and musician Brian Eno [3]. The group, identifying as "Patriotic Millionaires," argued that the tax should target wealth rather than earned income.
"We can afford it," the letter said. "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" [4].
Lineker's own financial profile has drawn attention during the campaign. Before leaving the BBC, his annual salary was £1.3 million [5], and his reported net worth is £30 million [5].
Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded to the pressure for fiscal reform. He said, "I may have to ask for a little more tax at some point" [6].
The signatories maintain that a wealth tax is a necessary tool for social stability. They argue that the current system disproportionately impacts those who rely on a monthly paycheck, while those with vast assets remain relatively shielded from the full weight of the tax system.
“"We can afford it."”
This effort by high-net-worth individuals to advocate for their own taxation represents a strategic attempt to build public support for progressive tax reforms. By framing the request as a matter of patriotism and fairness, the signatories are attempting to preempt populist anger and provide the government with a social mandate to increase levies on the wealthy without facing a total backlash from the financial elite.
