Former footballer and television presenter Gary Lineker has renewed his support for a wealth tax on Britain’s richest people, arguing that those with vast fortunes should contribute more to society.
Lineker, 65, is among more than 120 UK millionaires who signed an open letter calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce a 2% annual tax on assets worth more than £10 million.
Speaking on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast, Lineker said wealthy people reach a stage where they have enough money to be able to make a greater contribution to society. While acknowledging that individuals can voluntarily pay more tax, he argued that a legal requirement would be more effective.
“I think if you can get it as a kind of law that the super wealthy contribute more to society, it would make sense,” he said.
Lineker also rejected the argument that a wealth tax would cause billionaires to leave Britain. He questioned whether someone would really move abroad to avoid paying a relatively small percentage of their fortune.
The former Match of the Day presenter said an additional tax would have little impact on people with extremely large fortunes and suggested that wealth accumulation among billionaires can become a form of competition.
He also predicted strong opposition from wealthy individuals if the Government attempted to introduce such a measure.
Lineker’s comments have prompted criticism from Conservative and Reform politicians, who have pointed to his previous tax disputes with HM Revenue and Customs.
HMRC pursued Lineker over whether he should have been treated as an employee rather than a contractor for his television work between 2013 and 2018. The tax authority sought £3.62 million in income tax and £1.31 million in National Insurance.
Lineker was paid through Gary Lineker Media, a partnership established with his then wife Danielle Bux. HMRC argued that the arrangement amounted to disguised employment under IR35 rules.
A tax tribunal ruled in Lineker’s favour in 2023, finding that he had worked as a freelancer under direct contracts with the BBC and BT Sport. HMRC later appealed before settling the case in 2024. Lineker has maintained that the relevant taxes were paid.
His earlier involvement in film investment schemes has also drawn scrutiny. He invested in schemes operated by Ingenious Media that provided tax benefits to investors. HMRC later challenged the arrangements as tax avoidance.
Conservative politicians Andrew Griffith and Charlie Dewhirst accused Lineker of hypocrisy, while Reform MP Robert Jenrick said he could simply write a cheque to the Treasury if he wanted to pay more tax.
Maxwell Marlow of the Adam Smith Institute dismissed the wealth tax campaign as a publicity exercise.
Lineker has nevertheless maintained that a compulsory contribution from the super wealthy would be justified, arguing that those with substantial fortunes can afford to give more without significantly changing their lives.
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