TRACEY EMIN, one of the leading lights of the Britart movement, is preparing to quit the country because of Gordon Brown’s 50% tax rate for the wealthy, writes Richard Brooks.

She joins a threatened exodus by celebrities, footballers and hedge fund bosses in search of less onerous tax regimes.

Emin, 46, said she was “very seriously considering leaving Britain”, adding: “I’m simply not willing to pay tax at 50%.”

She is likely instead to live in France where she already has a holiday home and where she believes well-off artists are made to feel more welcome.

“The French have lower tax rates and they appreciate arts and culture,” said Emin.

Brown’s 50% tax rate on incomes of more than £150,000 will be introduced in April.

The highest tax rate in France is 40%, although there is also an annual wealth tax starting at 0.55% for those whose assets exceed €790,000 (£723,000). Artists receive more subsidies and expense allowances.

Emin’s threat marks a reversal in the economic fortunes of Britain and France. Only a few years ago, French business people were flocking to Britain because of the lower taxes.

Emin, who was brought up in Margate, Kent, made her name with controversial works such as her unmade bed and embroidered tent.

Just two years ago, she was the official representative of Britain at the Venice Biennale. However, this weekend she said: “So much here is simply not working now. The taxes are too high, there aren’t enough incentives to work hard, and our politicians have put me off. We’re paying through the nose for everything.”

Of the new tax, she said:

“I reckon it would mean me paying about 65p in every pound with tax, National Insurance and so on.”

Her attack has echoes of the playwright John Osborne’s 1961 letter “Damn You England” in which he said the country was “rotting”.

Guy Hands, the financier who owns the EMI record label, moved to Guernsey this summer, while Sir Michael Caine, the actor, has threatened to quit Britain. Hedge fund managers are moving to Switzerland.

Footballers have also objected to Brown’s tax hike. Andrei Arshavin, the midfielder who joined Arsenal earlier this year from Zenit St Petersburg, has hinted that he might not have moved to Britain if he had known he would lose so much in tax. He paid 13% in Russia.

Jermaine Pennant moved from Liverpool to Real Zaragoza citing tax as one of the reasons. If he obtains “foreign executive” status in Spain, he will pay 24% tax.

One estimate suggests that 25,000 people might quit Britain to escape the 50% tax. Political leaders are divided over it. David Cameron says if it raises no significant revenue, it would be “painless” to drop it early in a Tory government. The Treasury, however, has told Brown it could raise £2.5 billion a year by 2011-2012.

Emin makes her disillusionment with politicians clear. “This Labour government has had no understanding for the arts,” she said. “At least in France their politicians have always understood the importance of culture and they have traditionally helped out artists with subsidy and some tax advantages.

“We simply have what I call ‘ambition politicians’ who go from one department to another for career reasons,” she said. Andy Burnham, the last culture secretary, “lasted five minutes” before being moved to the health department, she said. His successor, Ben Bradshaw, had been a junior health minister.

“We should never have got involved in either Iraq or Afghanistan. Nor should we have bid for the Olympics, which we’ve now got and cannot afford,” said Emin.

Several well-known British actors and cultural figures, such as Charlotte Rampling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jane Birkin and Peter Brook, have long lived in France.

Emin will be taking Ed Vaizey, the shadow arts minister, around the Frieze art fair in London when it opens next week. While there she will be offering to design and make personalised neon signs for up to 10 buyers each willing to pay £65,000.

Any individual wanting a neon must fill in a form with 15 questions so that it can be customised. Questions will include your favourite colour and poem, and some more personal ones such as whether you believe in God or talk while making love.

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