The UK government on Monday sought to stem the spiralling backlash against its plan to limit tax relief on charitable donations by releasing details for the first time of the proportion of wealthy Britons who exploit the system to reduce their income tax bills.

In the past 10 days, charities and philanthropists have campaigned with increasing intensity for Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to reverse his plan to stop super-rich people avoiding paying tax by capping the amount of tax relief they can claim on charitable giving.