Preparing the ground for a windfall tax on wealth | Letters

DBC Reed, Alan Healey and Rae Street respond to an article by Polly Toynbee. Plus Margaret Squires on the truth of the magic money tree and David Napier on Rishi Sunak's smart' mug

As a long-term supporter of the oldest and most radical form of wealth tax, the Henry George land tax (which Andy Burnham was trying to get the Labour party behind 10 years ago), I can claim to have some experience with popular prejudices in favour of large holdings of wealth that Polly Toynbee wrestles with in her excellent article (To save the arts and all else we hold dear, a wealth tax now seems the only answer, 6 July).

Most people think wealth is a good idea and just needs sharing out in their direction. The most popular method is increases in house prices that you don't have to work for. But house prices rises simply spread poverty, as the high rents and property values ruin capitalism by leaving people who have to work without the money to buy the totality of production they are engaged in.