BRIAN READE: 'We must shame rich into sharing fortunes to rebuild Broken Britain'

Politicians often use working-class names to show that they are down with the common folk.

The Republican 2008 US presidential hopeful John McCain constantly evoked “Joe The Plumber” to signify his blue-collar credentials. Although the plumber couldn’t stop his campaign going down the toilet.

When Margaret Thatcher privatised British Gas in 1986, ad men urged us “If you see Sid, tell him” to buy some shares. Sadly many did, then flogged them to City firms who scammed us, and we ended up wanting to gas Sid.

But I think I’ve found a winner for Labour as they seek to do what everyone knows they need to do but are too scared to: force those whose wealth has soared since the bankers’ crisis to share some of their fortune with our skint Treasury.

They should put posters in City clubs, adverts across right-wing media and project images on to all the HQs of FTSE 100 companies saying: “Be more like Gary.”

Let me explain. Gary Grant who owns Britain’s biggest toy retailer The Entertainer is retiring and giving his £80million business to the firm’s 1,900 workers.

He is transferring ownership of the family’s 160-shop chain to an employee trust, meaning staff get to share the profits and decide its future, rather than flog it to cost-slashing corporate hawks.

“If the business had been sold just for money that would not have been passing on the baton in the way the family wanted,” said the practising Christian, with one of the delighted workers saying: “He always looks after us. It’s a typical Gary thing to do.”

“Gary things” have happened before. In 2019, Julian Richer handed control of his audio chain Richer Sounds to staff, giving them 60% of his shares, triggering a windfall of around £4million.

Also challenging the stereotype of the vampire capitalist obsessed with multi-million pound bonuses is a selfless group called Patriotic Millionaires UK, who are campaigning for people like them to pay more tax.

They point out that the top 10% owns 57% of the UK’s wealth, while the bottom half owns less than 5%, and believe making those at the top pay more tax would drive down inequality and help rebuild Broken Britain.

They also dismiss as a myth the notion that Labour is driving out the rich, pointing out that “less than 0.3%” of the country’s three million millionaires are projected to emigrate.

The likes of Gary Grant, Julian Richer and the Patriotic Millionaires should have a seat in the Cabinet to advise Labour how to incentivise other CEOs and millionaires to “do a Gary thing.”

These are the people who understand that success and happiness is not defined by the width of your wallet but the depth of your compassion. That the most patriotic thing you can do is share your wealth with the people who helped you make it.

Patriotic Millionaires (motto: “Proud to pay, here to stay”) also point to a recent poll carried out by Survation which claimed 80% of millionaires support a 2% wealth tax on assets over £10million.

Why don’t Labour test that? Why not hold a summit with the CBI, invite prominent millionaires, and call on them all to “do the Gary thing”. Then name and stain the non-patriotic refuseniks.

Maybe if Labour can’t soak the rich into paying more, it’s time to shame them into it.