The Guardian view on Britain's wealth divide: a gap becomes a chasm Looking at a range of indicators, researchers from the Resolution Foundation thinktank did the maths on how 16 months of

lockdown had affected households' wealth. The stark conclusion was that the pandemic had "turbo-charged" the already yawning gap between the rich and the poor. Looking at a range of indicators, researchers at the Resolution Foundation think tank calculated the 16-month

The impact of lockdown on household wealth.

The cruel conclusion is: the epidemic has exacerbated the already huge gap between rich and poor.

Become a member to view In one sense this should come as no surprise. For decades, the unspoken rule of British politics has been that the asset-rich shall become richer. Adjusted for inflation, the value of household wealth has doubled since 1980, but revenue

From taxes on wealth has remained more or less stagnant. In a sense, this is not surprising.

For decades, the unspoken rule of British politics has been that the wealthy get richer.

The value of household wealth, adjusted for inflation, has doubled since 1980, but income from taxes on wealth has remained more or less stagnant.

Become a member to view Reforms to capital gains tax were contemplated in the spring by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and then speedily returned to the back burner. Tax reliefs on savings and investments have gone untouched.

Reform of capital gains tax, but quickly shelved.

Tax relief on savings and investments has not been affected.

Become a member to view Polls have suggested robust public support for higher taxes on wealth. This is based on a justified sense that the gap between the rich and the poor has become too large and that the rich have become richer in recent years. Polls show

, there is strong public support for raising taxes on wealth.

This is based on a reasonable recognition that the gap between rich and poor has become too wide and that the rich have gotten richer in recent years.