Media coverage of Fat Cat Day 2026
Consistent with the last three years, this year it took the median FTSE 100 CEO less than 2.5 days to earn what a median full-time UK worker makes in an entire year. Median FTSE 100 CEO pay currently stands at £4.40 million, compared with £39,039 for a median full-time UK worker – a pay ratio of 113:1.
The story received widespread coverage across the UK media, including BBC, Sky, The Guardian, Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, The New Statesman, The Independent and iNews. Broadcast discussions took place on BBC News (see below), Times Radio, LBC Breakfast, and the Channel 5 discussion show Storm & Alexis.
Voices speaking out against this extreme inequality included TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, and numerous parliamentarians, trade unionists, and inequality campaigners.
In response to Fat Cat Day, the High Pay Centre and Equality Trust launched a petition calling for a Fat Cat Tax. Under this proposal, companies paying excessive amounts to executives would face a Corporation Tax surcharge, with the revenue reinvested in education to help tackle inequality.
Interim Director Andrew Speke’s interview on BBC News can be watched below: