3 August 2025, 06:54

By Rachel Watkyn OBE

Ministers muttering about fresh charges on “the wealthy” to plug the NHS deficit overlook a stubborn fact.

The top 10 per cent of earners already supply more than 60 per cent of all income-tax receipts, while the top one per cent alone puts in almost 30 per cent. They also pay National Insurance at eight per cent on salaries up to £50,270 and two per cent thereafter – still a three-fold bigger NI bill than the median worker. Asking that same cohort to swipe a card at the surgery door is less “solidarity” than triple taxation.

Perhaps an NHS Pass offers a better answer. Instead of another compulsory levy, it is an opt-in annual subscription of £1-2000 for anyone earning, say, over £100,000. Payment is made through the NHS App and credited against........

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