Brian Eno, Gary Lineker and more sign open letter to Burnham: "It’s time to tax us, the super rich"

Patriotic Millionaires UK have organised a new 'Proud to Pay' letter with over 100 signatures, encouraging the new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to tax millionaires more.

"We want you to tax us. We can afford it. 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," the letter said.

It urged a more equal society through a "devolution of wealth and power from the very richest."

Former footballer Gary Lineker, musician Brian Eno and Gary Stevenson among other UK millionaires, have signed the letter.

"Our fantastic country deserves all of us to get behind it. I’m proud to stand with people across the UK who want to live in a more equal society," Lineker said.

"Paying your fair share is a basic British value, but so many ordinary people are already paying more than they can afford. Our richest people can do more and most want to. To live up to our national values our new government must raise taxes on extreme levels of wealth for a fairer, better, more hopeful Britain."

A few days before Burnham became Prime Minister, he spoke in an interview on Lineker's podcast Goalhanger, where he was asked about wealth tax.

He said he would not "shy away from that,"and that the UK government "are going to have to work quite hard to make sure, you know, we can pay our way.

"And at some point that might be having to ask for a little more. But, you know, those decisions are not for now. They're for another day."

Patriotic Millionaires say a 2% tax on wealth over £10 million could raise £24 billion a year for the UK.

"As we embrace this new road - please consider taxing us properly as our contribution to it," the letter concluded. "We love this country. It’s time for a better Britain; it’s time for everyone here to feel Great Britain. It’s time to tax us, the super rich."