
Fair taxation is about more than bashing the rich
Wealth does need to be taxed more fairly, and equalising capital gains tax with income tax would be a good start – easy to administer and yielding significant revenues. Making council tax fairer would result in a massive redistribution of wealth. And middle-income earners – the biggest segment of taxpayers – will need to pay higher taxes.
Only the first of these is politically straightforward – the other two would need a much greater consensus around solidarity and fair contribution than exists in Britain today, and politicians need to start laying the groundwork for that now if the tax system is to be made fairer.Duncan CraigLondon
It is inarguable that Britain's economy has, as you say, become 'a machine for the upward redistribution of wealth' – a dynamic surely fuelling the fear-driven rightward drift of our politics. Yet contemporary surface trends alone cannot explain this volcano of discontent. A surprising amount of inequality remains rooted deep in mercenary medieval violence, bequeathing us a land ownership pattern that never seems to change.
So, of course, as long as our public realm is threadbare, target the newly income-wealthy, but do not forget to tax the hoarders of these unearned historical assets (eg through land value tax). And never permit the affluent and privileged to criticise our struggling public services while arguing for tax cuts for their ilk.Dr Brendan HillEdinburgh
What is the purpose of a majority of British people being in favour of a wealth tax when too many non-productive UK billionaires dictate and control our trickle-up economy to their advantage? Is it ignorance, fear and cowardice that diverts the minds of too many parliamentary leaders and economists away from fairness and decency?
Tax Justice UK is correct. A relatively modest wealth tax would enable practical moves towards equality, not least for students and staff in further and higher education. The government needs to give moral leadership, and here are policies for meaningful ways forward.Barry JonesEmeritus professor, Brunel University of London
Your editorial ignores three factors: wealth is reinvested (alienate it and there is less to sustain our economy); inheritance and wealth taxes amount to double taxation (they are major disincentives to the wealth creation on which high-spending economies depend); in terms of the first tranche of taxation, that on income and in terms of 'who pays the bills', the top 1% pay 30% of income tax, the top 10%, 60% and the top 50%, 90%.
Better public services depend on the encouragement of wealth creation, not its disincentivisation.David BiesterfieldEglingham, Northumberland
The reason we have so many billionaires (and such an egregiously skewed distribution of wealth) is simply that our political parties depend on, and are beholden to, their billionaire funders.Jon MarksTring, Hertfordshire
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Retailer Dunelm to appoint Clodagh Moriarty as chief executive
Dunelm has said it will appoint Clodagh Moriarty as the new boss of the homewares retailer. The company said Ms Moriarty will take over from chief executive Nick Wilkinson – who revealed his retirement plans earlier this year – from October 1. Ms Moriarty will join the company from Sainsbury's, where she is chief retail and technology officer, having spent 15 years at the grocery specialist. Alison Brittain, chairwoman of Dunelm, said: 'We are thrilled to be appointing Clo as our new CEO. 'She is a proven industry leader and brings an impressive range of skills and experience from one of the UK's largest retailers, where she has played a prominent role in developing the Sainsbury's offer to drive market share gains over a number of years. 'Clo was the standout candidate from a strong field, and we are delighted that we have been able to attract such a talented and high-calibre executive.' In February, Dunelm announced that Mr Wilkinson would step down from the role to retire after seven years. The appointment comes after a 'thorough recruitment process' which considered internal and external candidates. In its previous update in April, Dunelm reported accelerating over the first quarter of 2025 despite pressure on consumer spending. Ms Moriarty said: 'Dunelm is a fantastic business which I have followed and admired for many years, so to be joining as CEO is a real privilege. 'Our homes play a central part in our lives and Dunelm has a very special role in helping customers to create a space which is truly their own. 'We have an amazing platform to build from, and I can't wait to get started.'


Telegraph
28 minutes ago
- Telegraph
We're not an ‘island of strangers', Sir Keir. We're an island of mugs
The Labour government is facing the traditional audit of its achievements on the first anniversary of its election. The record, in fact, is nowhere near as grim as media coverage suggests: there have been some significant achievements and manifesto commitments delivered, including an extension of free school meals, the rolling out of breakfast clubs and big increases in health spending as well as a long-delayed and very necessary increase in defence spending. But – and there is always a 'but' – on headline issues that voters care about, or about which they become angry, the government is in perilous waters. First and foremost among such issues is immigration and the seemingly insoluble problem of the daily arrival on our southern shore of illegal immigrants who miraculously are transformed into entirely legal asylum seekers as soon as their feet touch dry land. What is the score card on this most tendentious of issues? Well, in the first half of this year, 20,000 people arrived across the Channel – up by 48 per cent on last year's numbers. On the plus side, French police officers managed to knife one rubber dinghy recently. So much for Yvette Cooper's promises, before and after polling day last year, that her government would 'smash' the trafficking gangs and end the cross-channel scam that has helped so many people successfully avoid UK customs and border checks. No one listening to Labour shadow ministers before last July seriously believed that the party's alternative to the Conservatives' Rwanda scheme – increased co-operation with the French police (because no one had thought of that before) – would work. But the party needed to justify its publicly-stated intention of abolishing the Rwanda scheme, and that achievement was made all the easier by Rishi Sunak's peculiar decision to call an election before the scheme could be proven either to have been a success or a failure. A year in office would seem to most people to be time enough to gauge the success of Labour's policy to halt the small boats. Yet judging by the numbers alone, that policy has failed. Dismally. That no one is particularly surprised at this should itself be a cause for alarm: we are sinking into a state of cynical pessimism where the daily arrivals are accepted with nothing more than a resigned shrug of indifference. That, of course, would be preferable to the government than the outrage that it would otherwise justify. 'Smash the gangs' was a handy sound bite to deploy in the run-up to a general election. It sounded robust, tough (and we know from the prime minister's own mouth that he considers himself a 'tough bastard'). This was a party that was going to get serious about the constant two fingers raised to our notion of territorial integrity every day of fair sailing conditions between Britain and France. But of course Labour were targeting the wrong people. Targeting the 'gangs' allowed Labour to maintain their deep public sympathy and concern for those exploited by the traffickers, the real victims of the villains of the piece. That line worked for as long as it needed to – until exactly a year ago, when the ballot boxes had been emptied and put back in storage. And a year later, the gangs continue to make their money and, according to the numbers, have even increased their capacity and customer base. The home secretary undoubtedly realises that so long as Britain is a welcoming place for new illegal arrivals, they will continue to come. Why on earth wouldn't they? By all means smash the gangs; though it will be only a matter of days, perhaps hours, until they have been replaced by new ones, so long as a willing customer base continues to demand passage across the channel. The migrants know that once they arrive on our shores, their chances of removal are slim. Most of them will have their asylum application accepted, after which they can enjoy the full benefits of UK life. Even if a claim fails, there is no need to worry about imminent removal, thanks to the absurd judicial appeals process that our politicians have instituted, and the similarly absurd activist judges who oversee it. And thanks to employers' very relaxed approach to checking applicants' right to work, they also know that there is plenty of paid employment to be had, just as long as they can hop aboard a dinghy at Calais. Keir Starmer was wrong to describe Britain as in danger of becoming an 'island of strangers': we are already internationally recognised as an island of mugs. We accept thousands of asylum applicants whose last country of residence was France, where they positively refuse to claim asylum. In a normal, functional country, that alone would be a reason to reject any such application. In case Labour ministers haven't quite clocked what is happening in our country, perhaps a reminder is in order: either this government finds a way to stop the small boats, or the next election will result in a new government that will.


The Guardian
40 minutes ago
- The Guardian
7/7 London terror attack victims remembered at 20th anniversary service
The prime minister and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were among those who gathered at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 20th anniversary of the 7 July London bombings. Four coordinated attacks on three tube trains and a double-decker bus killed 52 people and left several hundred injured in the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil. Keir Starmer and the royals were joined by Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London; the home secretary, Yvette Cooper; survivors, emergency responders and bereaved relatives at the commemorative ceremony. Starmer and Khan laid wreaths at the 7 July memorial in Hyde Park at 8.50am on Monday, to coincide with the time that the first bomb went off. They were joined by officials including the Metropolitan police commissioner, Mark Rowley, and the chief constable of the British Transport Police, Lucy D'Orsi, who also laid floral tributes. Survivors and relatives of those killed in the 7 July bombings spoke during the memorial service about how the areas involved in the attacks have changed in the past 20 years. They bowed at the altar after four candles – signifying the four sites of the bombings – Russell Square, Aldgate, Edgware Road and Tavistock Square – were carried through the cathedral by emergency services representatives. Ellie Patsalos, the wife of Prof Philip Patsalos, who lost a leg in the blast between King's Cross and Russell Square stations, spoke about Russell Square's history. She said: 'Here, men and women seek understanding and their search for truth challenges the ignorance which casts so much darkness over our world.' Tony Silvestro of the British Transport Police, who was at Aldgate station on 7 October helping survivors, talked about different immigrant communities who had worked and settled in the area, saying: 'Now, it is a busy crossroads of business and commerce with people of all faiths and none, trading and dealing with the rest of the world.' Rev Julie Nicholson, the mother of Jennifer Vanda Ann Nicholson, who died aged 24, said Edgware Road had been a refuge for Huguenot migrants and had a diverse ethnic history. She said it was 'cosmopolitan and proud of its ethnic mix and diverse resources'. George Psaradakis, the driver of the number 30 bus that was blown apart in the 2005 attacks, spoke about Tavistock Square and its memorials dedicated to victims and campaigners including Gandhi. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion In between each reflection, the choir sang a short piece. Graham Foulkes, the father of David Foulkes, who was killed in the 7 July attack at Edgware Road Station, said London has remained a place of hope through the people that live and visit the city. He said: 'These four pieces of London epitomise what is great about this city: an international crossroads of diversity and ingenuity, tolerance and respect, challenge and opportunity. 'When four bombs exploded on 7 July 2005, lives were destroyed and the flame of hope faltered for what seemed like an eternal moment. 'For many people, nothing was the same again and yet everything was the same because the good which is in Londoners and the countless visitors whom they host at any given moment is not erased by hatred or threat but – rather – is fostered to produce a harvest of hope for each generation.'