A single London constituency area now pays more income tax than the whole of Northern Ireland, with data revealing how the Treasury has become increasingly dependent on a handful of wealthy areas to fund public services.
The top ten constituencies most recently contributed £24.2 billion a year in income tax, 21 times the amount paid by the bottom ten — a gap that has grown over the past decade.
These ten areas, all in London, now pay a tenth of all income tax, as much as that paid by 147 areas at the bottom end.
Kensington & Bayswater constituency paid more income tax than the whole of Northern Ireland in 2022-23
ALEXANDER SPATARI/GETTY IMAGES
The findings come as Labour politicians increasingly press for a wealth tax to avoid further cuts to benefits and other public spending.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, said that
