Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget, Patriotic Millionaires UK are traveling across the nation in a custom bus with a clear message: “Tax us, the super-rich.”
The bus visited Stroud today - home to two members of the group - to encourage as many people as possible to back the call for the Chancellor to tax wealth, not work, when she delivers her budget on 26 November.
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity and member of Patriotic Millionaires UK, said: “I would welcome a wealth tax in this budget - it’s the moral and logical thing to do.
“When millions of children are living in poverty, when one million don’t even have a bed to sleep in tonight, and working people can’t make ends meet, it’s only right that those with the most should contribute a little more. And we are talking a little - just 2%. We (I am one) would hardly notice it, but it would make a huge difference to our country and society.”
The tour comes as research from Patriotic Millionaires reveals that since 2020 at least one local public service or facility has been shut down every three days because of budget cuts.
Patriotic Millionaires UK submitted Freedom of Information requests to councils across the UK to better understand how austerity and funding gaps are costing towns important local services like swimming pools, libraries and youth centres. The findings show that since 2020 the UK has seen an average closure of three children’s centres, two sports and activity centres, and two youth or other community support centres every month. Fewer and fewer people in towns and communities have access to life saving or enriching services.
Stephen Kinsella, a former lawyer and member of Patriotic Millionaires UK who lives in Stroud, said: "Up and down the country, libraries, swimming pools, youth centres and more are being boarded up because there’s not enough money to keep them running. Councils are having to make really difficult decisions and residents are losing important services, especially our young people.
“Our communities need investment and that money should come from the super-rich - millionaires like us who have benefited from all the good things this country has offered us. Rather than squeeze hardworking families and small to medium-sized businesses even more, the Chancellor should put more of the burden on the wealthiest. We can afford it.”
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For the latest from Stroud Times visit: stroudtimes.com
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Stroud Times - the independent community-based news website.
Encompassing the Stroud locality the team aim to provide engaging human interest stories, comprehensive sports coverage, and championing local businesses' success.
Living in the community they serve, editor Ash Loveridge, journalist Matt Bigwood, and photographer Carl Hewlett have joined forces to provide free-to-view local content devoid of a clickbait agenda and pop-up adverts.
Ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget, Patriotic Millionaires UK are traveling across the nation in a custom bus with a clear message: “Tax us, the super-rich.”
The bus visited Stroud today - home to two members of the group - to encourage as many people as possible to back the call for the Chancellor to tax wealth, not work, when she delivers her budget on 26 November.
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity and member of Patriotic Millionaires UK, said: “I would welcome a wealth tax in this budget - it’s the moral and logical thing to do.
“When millions of children are living in poverty, when one million don’t even have a bed to sleep in tonight, and working people can’t make ends meet, it’s only right that those with the most should contribute a little more. And we are talking a little - just 2%. We (I am one) would hardly notice it, but it would make a huge difference to our country and society.”
The tour comes as research from Patriotic Millionaires reveals that since 2020 at least one local public service or facility has been shut down every three days because of budget cuts.
Patriotic Millionaires UK submitted Freedom of Information requests to councils across the UK to better understand how austerity and funding gaps are costing towns important local services like swimming pools, libraries and youth centres. The findings show that since 2020 the UK has seen an average closure of three children’s centres, two sports and activity centres, and two youth or other community support centres every month. Fewer and fewer people in towns and communities have access to life saving or enriching services.
Stephen Kinsella, a former lawyer and member of Patriotic Millionaires UK who lives in Stroud, said: "Up and down the country, libraries, swimming pools, youth centres and more are being boarded up because there’s not enough money to keep them running. Councils are having to make really difficult decisions and residents are losing important services, especially our young people.
“Our communities need investment and that money should come from the super-rich - millionaires like us who have benefited from all the good things this country has offered us. Rather than squeeze hardworking families and small to medium-sized businesses even more, the Chancellor should put more of the burden on the wealthiest. We can afford it.”
******************
For the latest from Stroud Times visit: stroudtimes.com
******************
Stroud Times - the independent community-based news website.
Encompassing the Stroud locality the team aim to provide engaging human interest stories, comprehensive sports coverage, and championing local businesses' success.
Living in the community they serve, editor Ash Loveridge, journalist Matt Bigwood, and photographer Carl Hewlett have joined forces to provide free-to-view local content devoid of a clickbait agenda and pop-up adverts.






![Save our Swim - flash mob descends on Stroud town centre to protest about outdoor pool closure
A flash mob descended on Stroud town centre on Saturday morning, organised by Save our Lido campaigners.
Dozens of people took to the High Street and danced to Underwater Love by Smoke City, and Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop.
Caroline Molloy, one of the event organisers, told Stroud Times the idea came from a person who was a cross-channel swimmer: “She thought it would be nice to do a synchronised flash mob dance, so we put it out [on social media] and so many people have come forward and offered to help.
“A choreographer got in touch and offered to choreograph the dance – she was dressed as a lobster! It doesn’t surprise me that people from Stroud are coming together, because that is what the Lido is all about. It is about people coming together, and people are now coming together to defend it.”
Earlier this year Stroud District Council announced the Stratford Park Outdoor Pool, also referred to as the Lido, required £5 million investment for urgent repairs, and would not open for the summer season due to health and safety concerns.
******************
For the latest from Stroud Times visit: https://stroudtimes.com/
******************
Stroud Times - the independent community-based news website.
Encompassing the Stroud locality the team aim to provide engaging human interest stories, comprehensive sports coverage, and championing local businesses success.
Living in the community they serve, editor Ash Loveridge, journalist Matt Bigwood, and photographer Carl Hewlett have joined forces to provide free-to-view local content devoid of a clickbait agenda and pop-up adverts. Save our Swim - flash mob descends on Stroud town centre to protest about outdoor pool closure](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PB2jD03N0pc/mqdefault.jpg)

![Flash mob hits Stroud town centre to back the Save our Lido campaign
A flash mob descended on Stroud town centre on Saturday morning, organised by Save our Lido campaigners.
Dozens of people took to the High Street and danced to Underwater Love by Smoke City, and Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop.
Caroline Molloy, one of the event organisers, told Stroud Times the idea came from a person who was a cross-channel swimmer: “She thought it would be nice to do a synchronised flash mob dance, so we put it out [on social media] and so many people have come forward and offered to help.
“A choreographer got in touch and offered to choreograph the dance – she was dressed as a lobster! It doesn’t surprise me that people from Stroud are coming together, because that is what the Lido is all about. It is about people coming together, and people are now coming together to defend it.”
Earlier this year Stroud District Council announced the Stratford Park Outdoor Pool, also referred to as the Lido, required £5 million investment for urgent repairs, and would not open for the summer season due to health and safety concerns.
******************
For the latest from Stroud Times visit: https://stroudtimes.com/
******************
Stroud Times - the independent community-based news website.
Encompassing the Stroud locality the team aim to provide engaging human interest stories, comprehensive sports coverage, and championing local businesses success.
Living in the community they serve, editor Ash Loveridge, journalist Matt Bigwood, and photographer Carl Hewlett have joined forces to provide free-to-view local content devoid of a clickbait agenda and pop-up adverts. Flash mob hits Stroud town centre to back the Save our Lido campaign](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PZYRgruHLEo/mqdefault.jpg)

