Poll: 79% of British Voters Support Private Jet Tax Ahead of UK Budget
Why It MattersRising public and political pressure for steep private-jet fuel duty and passenger tax increases signals potential new UK fiscal burdens on business aviation operators and passengers.
A survey of 3,039 British adults conducted in September by polling firm More in Common found that 79 per cent support a new tax on private jets, with findings released ahead of a forthcoming UK Budget in which the Chancellor faces significant fiscal pressure. The poll also found 56 per cent of respondents believe the wealthy do not pay their fair share of tax, with support for the private jet tax highest among Labour voters (68 per cent) and Green voters (75 per cent), while 46 per cent of Conservative voters and 49 per cent of Reform voters also backed the measure.
Proponents suggest the tax could raise as much as £2.7 billion annually: approximately £1.5 billion if fuel duty on private-jet kerosene is set at ten times the standard road-fuel rate (£5.295 per litre), and a further £1.2 billion if air passenger duty is increased to thirty times its current rate. Labour backbench MPs, including Chris Hinchcliff, MP for North East Herts, have been advocating for the measure ahead of the Budget, while Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has previously expressed support for revising air passenger taxes and raising duties on private jet flights.
The Budget is expected to include difficult decisions on tax and spending, with commitments that include a £2 cap on bus tickets, ending rough sleeping, removing VAT from energy bills, and finding at least £5 billion to fund defence spending.
