WEALTH taxes are the “answer to the problem of our time,” Unite told the TUC Congress today as unions pledged to launch a high-profile campaign against austerity.

Delegates unanimously voted to campaign for a raft of progressive tax measures, including a windfall levy on highly profitable businesses that could raise up to £50 billion over four years.

They also backed a rise in capital gains tax, a reform of pensions tax relief and measures to prevent company fat cats from fleecing public services for personal gain.

Moving the motion, Unite delegate Kathy Smith pointed out that a recent poll had showed 83 per cent public support for wealth taxes, adding: “That's not a poll from the Morning Star, from the Guardian lefties … that’s from the Daily Express.

“The wealth tax is the answer to the problem of our time.

“That would deliver far more for the Treasury and our society than the endless attacks on public service workers.”

She also hit out at Labour, saying that instead of the party keeping its promises of change, “we got excuses and we got fiscal rules.

“We got an attempt to pit workers against pensioners, we got austerity Mark 2.

“These are not actions of a government that are on the side of workers.”

Seconding, NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Sadly, a year on, people do not see the change that they voted for.

“We were told that austerity would end, but it hasn't.

“There’s a different world, a different country and indeed a different universe for those at the top.”

Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) general secretary Fran Heathcote added: “The fundamental problem of this country is a failure to tackle inequality.”