Burnham urged to make super-rich pay to rebuild public services
The Scottish Greens have challenged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to break with decades of Westminster failure and make the super-rich pay their fair share to rebuild the public services we all rely on.
The party is calling for a wealth tax on the richest 1% of households in the UK - those with assets worth £3.4 million or more. Analysis from the University of Greenwich suggests this could raise over £70 billion a year.
That is money that could help to cut household bills, make buses and trains cheaper, build warm, affordable homes and create thousands of good green jobs.
Party Co-leader Gillian Mackay said:
“Andy Burnham has talked a good game, but that is the easy part. Now he needs to show he has the courage to act.
“He will never be this powerful again, and he has a choice. He can talk about change while repeating the same failed politics of managed decline, or he can be bold and genuinely do things differently.
“The answer to how we pay for a better future is staring us in the face, and it begins with taxing the super-rich.
“A wealth tax on multi-millionaires could raise tens of billions of pounds to cut bills for ordinary households, make public transport cheaper and invest in the services that we all depend on.
“For far too long, governments have bent over backwards to protect the super-rich while ordinary people and families have been left to pick up the bill. That has to end.
“The super-rich can and should pay more. It is time to make them pay their fair share and fund a recovery that works for people and planet.”
Gillian added:
“Andy Burnham has made devolution a central part of his vision, but it will only work if he is prepared to meaningfully break with the status quo.
“When it comes to energy, employment, corporation tax, workers’ rights and the right to decide our own future, the case for decisions to be made here in Scotland is overwhelming.
“There is no reason for these powers to be hoarded by a Westminster machine that even Andy Burnham accepts has been failing for 40 years.
“Scotland should not have to wait for Westminster to give us permission to build a fairer, greener future.”