Chief executive Gerald Ronson said bankers and other successful people were a victim of the politics of envy

The boss of property developer Heron International, Gerald Ronson, has lambasted the government for a hike in stamp duty on homes worth over 拢2m from 5% to 7%.

He is reported by as saying that public opinion and policy was being driven by 鈥渉ypocrisy and envy鈥� of successful people.

鈥淚f we create a tax regime that punishes success it will kill aspirations to succeed,鈥� he said at the firm鈥檚 annual lunch at the Dorchester hotel.

He added that the supply of prime London property was at an all time low.

He said the recent outrage over the bonus paid to RBS chief executive Stephen Hester was a 鈥渓ynch mob attack鈥�.

Heron International owns a number of large commercial buildings in the square mile including the Heron Tower.

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