Emily Thornberry will campaign to tax the wealthiest people in society more if she is elected leader of the Labour party.

The former barrister said it was only right the richest should take on the biggest share of the tax burden, claiming that under the Conservatives the wealthiest people and businesses have been paying less.

“The people who own the most are actually paying less in terms of the percentage. Tax rates have gone down. I’d put them back up to make them the average of the rich countries around the world,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme.

“Of course a rich person pays more tax than a poor person because they have more money. If you earn £300,000 you should be paying more tax than someone paying £30,000,” she said, after being asked about her own personal wealth.

The shadow foreign secretary, who represents Islington South, is trailing in last place in the leadership contest to replace Jeremy Corbyn, where she is up against Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Rebecca Long-Bailey.

She said having a woman at the top of the party would be an advantage because the prime minister had a “woman problem”. “It is an advantage to be a woman leader at this time because I think Boris Johnson has a woman problem, most definitely. He certainly has a problem with me. I think the Labour party should think about that.” Read more

Also Read: New UK housing ‘dominated by roads’

hw.hw