KEIR Starmer must use the King’s Speech to introduce a wealth tax on Britain’s richest people, the Scottish Greens have demanded.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s address, party co-leader Lorna Slater said taxing the rich could “transform our economy and the lives of so many children and families”.
The King’s Speech on Wednesday is expected to see around 30 new bills unveiled, which will give the clearest indication so far of the new Government’s priorities after Labour’s landslide victory just under a fortnight ago.
But the spectacle of the event, which sees the King deliver a speech outlining the bills to the opulent House of Lords, throws into sharp relief the “extreme wealth and inequality” in the UK, according to Slater (below).
The Greens highlighted research from academics from Greenwich University in 2021 which found that a wealth tax on the best-off would raise at least £70 billion – equivalent to 9% of the total annual tax take.
Slater said: “Keir Starmer will rarely be in as powerful a position as he is now. He must seize the opportunity and take the kind of bold and historic action that will finally end the shocking levels of poverty all around us and begin to tackle the climate crisis.
“By asking the very wealthiest people to pay a bit more, he could transform our economy and the lives of so many children and families who have paid the price for 14 years of Tory rule, and could end the cruel child benefit cap and bedroom tax many times over.
“The UK is one of the richest societies there has ever been at any time in history. There is no need for any child to go to bed cold or hungry, yet millions are every single day. It is a moral disgrace and a legacy of decades of failure.”
She added: “On the face of it, the King’s speech is a ridiculous and garish celebration of extreme wealth and inequality. Yet, behind all of the pomp and pageantry, the policies that are announced will have an impact for years to come.
“This is a really urgent time for our country and our climate. It is a time for bold action and change. People deserve so much better than the last 14 years have offered, but that can’t happen without a fundamental change in our politics and our economy.”
The Labour government is also under pressure to end the two-child cap on benefits, which it is estimated would cost the Exchequer between £2.5bn and £3.6bn.
The SNP plan to table an amendment to the King’s Speech to force a vote on the issue, which will attract the support of their left-wing allies on the opposition benches – and potentially some veterans of the Labour left.
Given the size of Labour’s majority, it appears certain Starmer can see off this challenge, even if it triggers a backbench rebellion on his side of the house.
Some on the right may also back calls to end the cap, including Reform’s Nigel Farage and former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman, both of whom have spoken out against the policy.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “We have set out our tax plans in the manifesto.
"That includes cracking down on tax non-compliance, abolishing the non-dom regime and closing tax loopholes.”
The National understands Labour have no plans to introduce a wealth tax.
