More than two-thirds of Scots want to see richest pay more in tax, poll finds

The UK Government is being urged to “put fairness first” by increasing taxes on the richest – a move backed by more than two-thirds of Scots.

Campaigners at Oxfam Scotland said Chancellor Rachel Reeves should take steps to “protect people in poverty” by increasing the amount the richest have to pay to the UK Government.

They made the plea ahead of the Chancellor’s spring statement on Wednesday, where Ms Reeves is expected to announce spending cuts for some Government departments – a move which could come days after the UK Government made cuts to welfare spending.

However, research for Oxfam by YouGov showed 68% of people in Scotland believe that the richest people should pay more in tax.

Almost four out of five Scots (79%) want to see higher taxes levied on the very richest instead of cuts to public spending.

People in Scotland are crystal clear, they’d rather tax the richest than see cuts to public spending

Some 79% also support the introduction of a new wealth tax on assets worth more than £10 million.

According to supporters, if such a tax was to be levied at 2% if could raise up to £24 billion a year – around £460 million a week – for the UK, which could then be invested in public services.

As the polling was published, Mark Campbell of the campaign group Patriotic Millionaires said: “As a millionaire, I know the economy is working for a few people like me and working against the vast majority.”

The entrepreneur added: “Spending cuts are short-sighted and will only increase the worries of millions of people in the UK who are struggling to put food on the table and heat their homes.

“Meanwhile, the very richest people in our society are watching their wealth grow exponentially.

“It seems outrageous that the wealth of the richest is taxed at a much lower rate than the income of working people who will bear the brunt of these budget cuts. A wealth tax is a very clear alternative.”

Mr Campbell added: “Given that most people want higher taxes on the very richest, and plenty of millionaires – people like me – also want it, what’s stopping the UK Government?”

Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “We all feel it in our bones – it’s indefensible that public spending to support those in poverty and crisis is being slashed, while private wealth is quietly stashed away.

“People in Scotland are crystal clear, they’d rather tax the richest than see cuts to public spending.

“It’s time for the UK Government to put fairness first, tax the super-rich and protect people in poverty. The choice is that simple.”

As well as pressing the UK Government to act, Oxfam is urging the Scottish Government to use its devolved powers, with campaigners wanting to see a tax on private jets introduced, along with action to replace the current council tax system.

Mr Livingstone said: “Scotland’s political leaders can’t afford to wait for Westminster to make the fair and obvious choice to make the wealthiest pay their share.

“As we approach the 2026 Holyrood election, they would be foolhardy to ignore the public mood. People want to see real progress on fairness.

“Scotland has powers to tax wealth more fairly to combat runaway inequality and to build a better and greener country, it’s time to use them.”

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “Scotland’s tax policies mean that the majority of income taxpayers in Scotland pay less than they would elsewhere in the UK – while those earning the most pay a bit more.

“This will raise up to an additional £1.7 billion more in 2025/26 than if we had followed UK policies, contributing to policies which are not available anywhere else in the UK, including the Scottish child payment, which is forecast to benefit the families of over 330,000 children in 2025-26.

“However, we know there is more to do and our efforts are being undermined by the social security policies of the UK Government and policies like the two-child limit, which is increasing poverty and hardship for many families. That is why in the coming financial year we will develop the systems necessary to effectively scrap the impact of the two-child cap in 2026.”

A Treasury spokesperson said: “Our progressive tax system means the top 1% of taxpayers contribute nearly a third of income tax, with revenue from wealth and asset taxes such as capital gains tax and inheritance tax going towards funding tens of billions of pounds for public services.”