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War on the wealthy: Nick Clegg suggests rich should pay wealth tax to beat recession

In efforts of fairness, Nick Clegg has suggested that the UK’s wealthiest residents need to pay more tax and dig a little deeper to try and boost the economy and beat the recession.

The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the possible ‘wealth tax’ in an interview with the Guardian, where he suggests those of ‘very considerable personal wealth’ should make a ‘time limited contribution’.

As the whole country tightens their belts, Mr Clegg believes that it’s only fair for the richest to do even more for the ‘national effort’ by paying more for a limited time.

"If we are going to ask people for more sacrifices over a longer period of time, a longer period of belt tightening as a country, then we just have to make sure that people see it is being done as fairly and as progressively as possible.” He told the newspaper.

It comes at the same time as MPs criticise the fact that the richest celebrities and politicians are receiving honours, instead of hard working volunteers in the community.

The Public Administration Select Committee has suggested that no-one should be honoured for ‘simply doing the day job’, no matter what that job is and that those with considerable wealth may not need to be honoured as much as others.

But what do you think? Should the richest do more to help the UK as a whole?

Or do you think it’s unfair to create a ‘wealth tax’? Let us know your thoughts below.