TAX THE RICH

THE super-wealthy should bear the brunt of looming tax rises in the autumn budget to ease the pressure on ordinary grafters, demand campaigners and union chiefs today.

- BY LIZZY BUCHAN Political Editor and ASHLEY COWBURN Deputy Political Editor

It comes as a poll reveals 64% of voters would back tax hikes if they hit the wealthiest hardest and shield the poorest, while 62% want Rachel Reeves' priority to be tackling household bills when she makes her speech on Wednesday.

More than half (52%) want the Chancellor to bring in specific measures to help families - such as axing the two-child benefit cap - and 25% told pollsters Survation they want more money pumped into the NHS.

Ms Reeves has ruled out a wealth tax, but Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees campaign group which commissioned the survey, urged her: "Tax. The. Rich. The message couldn't be clearer."

He went on: "The public really want the government to help people's day to day lives improve, and they should fund this by asking those with the broadest shoulders to shoulder the burden the most.

"The ultra rich are trying to pull the wool over our eyes but the truth is that most people genuinely support tax rises to fund public services, provided tax is done fairly with the ultra wealthy footing most of the bill.