Wealthy must 'pay fair share' to stamp out 'grotesque' inequality, says TUC boss

06 September 2023 , 23:01

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Paul Nowak said the Tories had allowed the rich to feather their nests while families struggle (Image: PA)

Wealthier people should pay higher taxes to end the "grotesque inequality" plaguing Britain, the TUC General Secretary has said.

Paul Nowak said the Tories had allowed the rich to feather their nests while families struggle with bills and cash-strapped public services buckle under pressure. He backed Keir Starmer's vow to protect working people from tax hikes but said the wealthy "have got to pay their fair share". The Labour leader told the Mirror this week that he would not hike levies - including income tax.

Calling for a national debate on taxation, the TUC General Secretary told the Mirror: “It feeds into that sense that to get Britain back on its feet we need a fairer Britain. Of course, you've got to grow the economy and of course that's the ultimate thing that will drive prosperity and put money in people's pockets. But in order to rebuild our public services, we're going to have to find the resources from somewhere and I think that the very wealthiest could afford to pay a little bit more.”

Mr Nowak said 13 years of Conservative government have built "a country of grotesque extremes", adding: “We can't afford this huge growth in inequality that we've seen take place over the last 13 years."

Polling for the TUC found a majority (61%) Brits think wealthy people should pay more tax – including over half (53%) of Conservative voters in the 2019 general election. Only 4% of the public think wealthy people should pay less tax. Some three in four people think capital gains should be taxed at the same or higher than income tax – including 73% of Conservative 2019 voters.

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The TUC is urging the Government to equalise capital gains tax with income tax which could raise over £10 billion – and it has backed a bigger windfall tax on energy companies. Three quarters (75%) of respondents backed a windfall tax on banks’ excess profits – including 76% of Conservative 2019 voters, the poll found. Meanwhile four in five (80%) support a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits - including 81% of Tory voters.

:: Opinium polled 2,084 UK adults between August 23-25 2023

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Lizzy Buchan