Wealthy gen Xers stand in the way of a Burnham tax on the super-rich

Queens Gate Terrace in London. Burnham has spoken in favour of a land tax, and he could phase in a scheme that replaces council tax and stamp duty. Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy

The professional classes act like a Praetorian Guard for the super-rich.

Having acquired some of the trappings of being rich, they defend the privileges of wealth – land, property and pensions. They do this as if they – company managers, lawyers, doctors, judges, senior civil servants, architects and chartered this and thats – were the main beneficiaries.