Wealth Tax Poll: 59% of Britons Back a 2% Super-Rich Levy

It's a thumbs-up Andy! Public say let's tax the super-rich

New polling reveals the majority of people across Britain back a wealth tax on the super-rich to help meet the cost of public spending.

Six in ten people (59%) support the introduction of a 2% levy on anyone with wealth over £10million, with only 6% saying they strongly oppose the idea, and 9% saying they "somewhat oppose" it.

In a further clear message to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the polling of 2,031 UK adults by Survation revealed that 63% believe the wealthiest are not paying their fair share in tax compared with the rest of the country.

Amid increasing calls for capital gains income to be taxed equally to work income, the majority of those polled say Chancellor John Healey should go even further, and tax income from investments, rentals and capital gains at a higher rate than income from work.

Dale Vince, whose Green Britain Foundation commissioned the poll and who is an active campaigner for Patriotic Millionaires UK – which has petitioned the PM to raise tax on the rich – said: "A wealth tax on anyone worth more than £10million would affect fewer than 20,000 people yet raise around £24billion every year; revenue that could be redirected into our NHS, social care and the green transition.

"Imagine a world where we tax wealth more than work. Where no one has to skip meals to afford heat, and where every child has access to a well-funded local school.

"A wealth tax is not just a fiscal tool, it's a statement about our shared values. It says that those who've benefited the most from our society's infrastructure and stability should invest back into it. It says we believe in systemic change: an economy that serves people and planet over private profit.

"The case is clear, the data's in, the models work, and support extends beyond the usual activists' circles. If we want to tackle poverty, strengthen public services, and confront climate breakdown, taxing extreme wealth must be part of the solution.

"Let's give politicians no excuse to delay. Let's build a tax system that genuinely works for the many, not the few."

This edition of Babelfish highlights the economic benefits of raising the personal tax allowance of £12,570, which has been frozen since 2021 and under current plans will stay frozen until 2031. Of those polled, 51% said raise it, with 29% thinking it should be kept at its present level.

In a boost to the government, the public is behind plans for a "mansion tax" on homes worth more than £2million, with 62% in favour and only 14% opposing its introduction.

And perhaps giving food for thought to further tax reforms, 42% of people are in favour of an "exit tax" for people who are relocating out of the UK for tax purposes, which would mean they would have to pay tax on unrealised capital gains, with 22% in opposition.

The lengths that some companies and individuals go to in order to legally avoid paying tax grates on the public, with 52% saying it is unacceptable behaviour and only 20% claiming it is acceptable. Tax remains a contentious issue, with 50% of those polled believing they pay too much.

Arguments will continue to rage over maintaining the state pension triple lock if our poll is anything to go by, with 41% saying it should be kept in its current form even if it costs taxpayers more, and 40% saying it should be replaced with a different formula to manage the cost to taxpayers.

The form of tax deemed most unfair was inheritance tax, with 52% believing it is unfair and 23% saying it is fair. It was followed by fuel duty, council tax and stamp duty.

Only three taxes were considered fair on balance, led by alcohol and tobacco duty, with 47% saying it is fair and 27% unfair, followed by corporation tax and national insurance.

Reform voters viewed all taxes as unfair.