Energy & Climate
A wealth tax for the richest 0.1%
£130bn National Renewal Tax on the super-rich could insulate all draughty UK homes, fund free bus travel, green jobs and more, new report finds.
15 October 2024
Activists from the Make Them Pay coalition projected a variety of messages onto the Houses of Parliament last night (19 August), including ‘Make Them Pay’, ‘Protect workers, not billionaires’ and ‘Tax the super rich’.
The stunt was coordinated by direct action group Climate Resistance as part of the Make Them Pay coalition.
‘Champagne-guzzling, private jet-owning billionaires are profiting from hardship, plundering the resources of communities around the world, and trashing our planet for profit. We’re facing a climate emergency and runaway poverty, because the super rich are treating the world as their playground. It’s time to abolish billionaires, redistribute their ill-gotten wealth, and fund urgent climate action.
‘As we gear up for the Autumn Budget, this government has a simple choice: tax the super-rich and invest in climate action, or cosy up to Nigel Farage and chuck future generations under the billionaire bus. Join Make Them Pay on 20th September and make sure they make the right choice.’
SAM SIMONS
Climate Resistance spokesperson
The action comes in advance of a major mobilisation that’s being organised by the coalition, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to central London on 20 September.
According to the Make Them Pay coalition, the aim of the rally is to unite a diverse coalition of groups – from the climate justice, trade union and social justice movements – in a call for increased action from the UK Government to accelerate a green transition with justice for communities, workers and the planet at its core.
The rally will add to the variety of mass mobilisations and protests expected in London earlier in the week, in response to Trump’s second state visit.
‘From climate change to global trade, this government seems intent on protecting billionaires and destructive corporations over working people. The economy is broken, the climate is collapsing and many of us are looking to the future – or even the end of the month – with fear.
‘The money is there to protect us all, but it is currently concentrated in the hands of a staggeringly wealthy few. Our message to Keir Starmer is to be brave enough to make them pay, and rebuild society for the people who keep it running, not the rich and powerful.’
IZZIE MCINTOSH
Campaigns and policy manager at Global Justice Now
According to War on Want, UK billionaires pocketed an extra £35 million every single day last year, while families skipped meals, food banks were overwhelmed and climate disasters intensified.
‘This is the injustice we refuse to accept’, said senior movement building and activism officer Tyrone Scott. ‘It’s time to make the super-rich, corporations and polluters pay their fair share, so we can rebuild a society that works for people and the planet, not billionaires.’
Namrata Chowdhary, head of public engagement at 350.org, warned that billionaires are ‘breaking Britain, in the same way they have been wrecking the world.’
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