Gary Stevenson takes over the Big Issue to make case for a wealth tax

Ex-trader, economist and campaigner Gary Stevenson has been handed control of the Big Issue for a special takeover edition focused on wealth taxes, out today (Monday 06 July).

The YouTube star and best-selling author has assembled a team of academics, economists and campaigners to make the case for a wealth tax to tackle the growing inequality which he argues is tearing UK society apart.

The special edition comes as speculation swirls that Stevenson could become an ‘economic adviser’ for Andy Burnham, should he become Prime Minister in July as is widely expected.

Questioned on it in this week’s Big Issue, Stevenson said he didn’t “want to jeopardise” Burnham’s willingness to work with him.

“I really want Burnham to be good,” Stevenson tells this week’s Big Issue. “Because if he is not, then Nigel Farage will win the next election.

“Even if we just talk about the economy and inequality, Farage is going to cut taxes on the rich and it’s going to be devastating for living standards.

“Where are you, Labour? Where are you in the conversation? All you’re doing is sending d*ckheads onto Question Time.”

In a YouTube video posted in June, Stevenson said people from Labour, who had been ignoring his emails previously, had got in touch with him and been meeting with him in the last few weeks to talk about a wealth tax. 

“I have to be careful what I say about Burnham – I don’t want to jeopardise his team’s willingness to work with me,” he says. “There is a realistic chance because if they don’t talk to me, then what are they going to do? But I suspect we won’t get the seriousness we need on top-level inequality.”

Stevenson also uses his guest edit to hit back at podcasters Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, who have been critical of his wealth tax plans on their hit show The Rest Is Politics.

“They’re always dumping on me,” Stevenson says. “What they don’t understand is that I’m f*cking changing politics here because I’m smart enough to see the space was in storytelling. Compelling, engaging, accessible, welcoming storytelling about politics and economics.

“It frustrates me when wonkish academic economists say, ‘Gary’s not serious.’ It’s like they don’t understand – fascism is about to take over. And you guys are sitting in your ivory castles, doing inverse f*cking matrices?”

Stand-up comedian Barry Ferns, French-American economist Gabriel Zucman and Patriotic Millionaires director Rebecca Gowland are amongst the names contributing to Stevenson’s special edition. His takeover of the Big Issue is on sale now from vendors across the UK.