This is one way of looking at it:
"Tax got to 82 per cent [in the 1970s] and I thought this was kind of unfair," he said. "Also, I see… that the government has taken it up to 50 per cent and if it goes to 51 I will be back in America.
"I will not pay the Government more than I get. No way, ever. So they\’ve reached their limit with me. That\’s the lot."
It\’s a reasonable way of looking at it too….
Sadly the Chancellor also abolished the upper limit for “National Insurance” “Contributions”, so that makes the tax rate 63%.
And he still paying VAT, Duty, Council Tax, and a myriad of indirect taxes.
It appears they were even warned about this by the Treasury:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/5220964/Alistair-Darling-was-told-two-thirds-will-dodge-new-50p-top-tax-rate.html
Andrew Lloyd Webber also has a view on this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1173545/ANDREW-LLOYD-WEBBER-The-thing-country-needs-pirate-raid-wealthy-dont-lynch-Im-rich-b—d.html