One hundred and twenty wealthy Britons have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking him to introduce a 2% tax on wealth above £10 million, according to the BBC (BBC News).

The letter, called "Proud to Pay," was organised by a group called Patriotic Millionaires and addresses Burnham as the "new prime minister." The BBC did not give the exact date the letter was sent, but published its report on 23 July 2026 (BBC News).

People who signed include former footballer Gary Lineker, music producer Brian Eno and film director Richard Curtis (BBC News). The Telegraph covered the story the same day (The Telegraph).

Patriotic Millionaires said their own polling showed most millionaires supported paying higher taxes on themselves (BBC News). The BBC did not call the story an exclusive, meaning the information appears to come from the group itself and its letter (BBC News).

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch replied directly. She said Lineker is "very welcome to pay more tax" and can "write a cheque to the treasury" (BBC News). The BBC notes that anyone can already give money or shares to the Treasury voluntarily through an existing scheme (BBC News).

The broader context is that Badenoch's reply is a familiar political argument. When famous people say they want to pay more tax, opponents often point out that they can already donate voluntarily, so the real demand is to make everyone else pay too. Conservatives have used this response to similar campaigns before.

The signatories are not offering a donation, though. They want a new law: a 2% charge on wealth above £10 million. The BBC reporting does not say whether the Treasury is considering such a measure.

Calling Burnham the "new prime minister" suggests the letter arrived at the start of his time in office, when campaign groups often push for their preferred policies before decisions are set. The BBC does not say whether Burnham or the Treasury has replied to the letter.

Having well-known names like Lineker, Eno and Curtis involved means the letter gets far more attention than an ordinary policy document. Lineker has been at the centre of political rows before, which could affect how MPs and newspapers react.

Whether the letter changes government policy will depend on whether Burnham's team decides to treat a 2% wealth tax as a serious option. For now, the Treasury's voluntary donation scheme is still open.