Donating one per cent of wages to charity 'fair and right', says Tory minister That is not the culture that has been developed in this country, and I would like to see it developed. Mr Hurd said the biggest contributions should be given by "those who have been lucky in life." "We're all aware, and should be uneasy, that inequality has deepened in the country over a long period of time," he said. There's anger and frustration across the country, directed at banks and what newspaper cartoonists portray as the fat cats, so it's absolutely in the interests of the country and social cohesion that those who have been lucky in life should be seen to be putting back. We have to point out that people have responsibility to each other besides paying taxes, and I don't think we're anywhere near the [United] States in terms of that. However, the minister said he was careful not to be "too preachy" about people giving to charity. He spoke to the magazine as part of its campaign to get people to give one per cent of their wealth away. The Government has also backed a push to get wealthy people to leave 10 per cent of their money to charity after their death. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have all signed up to the Legacy10 campaign to donate a tenth of their cash in their wills. Under new laws, the rate of inheritance tax will be reduced from 40 to 36 per cent for anyone who leaves at least 10 per cent of their estate to charity. A number of rich businessmen have already pledged money to the campaign, including Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, Sir Roger Carr, Chairman of British Gas owner Centrica, Sir Nigel Rudd, Chairman of airport operator BAA and Charles Dunstone, co-founder of The Carphone Warehouse.