Public opinion shifts against austerity, study shows

30 June 2017

The Tories’ jubilation over the continued freeze on emergency service workers’ pay reveals the party is out of touch with public opinion, as a new study shows the tide has turned against austerity.

As many as 83% of respondents in the latest British Social Attitudes survey of 2,942 people from the National Centre for Social Research wanted the government to spend more on health.

Furthermore, 71% said they want more investment in education; 57% said more money should go to the police; and 83% backed government financing of projects that would create new jobs (up from 72% in 2006).

Workers were also happy to cover the cost, with 48% saying they wanted to pay higher taxes to fund improved public services and increased government spending. This represents the highest vote in favour of increased taxes in over a decade.

In further evidence of a swing to the left, 42% said they wanted to see the government engage in more measures to redistribute wealth from those who are better-off to those who are poorer – up from 34% before the financial crisis.

The Tories’ flagship “Red Tape Bonfire” also appears to be losing support, as there was a fall in the proportion of respondents who wanted to see cuts in the regulation of business to only 34%, down from 40% in 2006.

“People’s tolerance for austerity is drying up, even if that means higher taxes. This leftwards tilt on tax and spend is matched by a long-running conservatism on national security and law and order. In all, people want a more active state that’s firm but fairer,” Roger Harding, Head of Public Attitudes for the National Centre for Social Research, said.