Public oppose devolving income tax powers 2 to 1 despite sustained high neighbourhood satisfaction

• Over three-quarters of Britons (76%) remain satisfied with their local communities as a place to live, maintaining steady levels compared to previous survey waves. 
• Almost half of British adults (46%) oppose Government’s plans to give local authorities or regional mayors powers to set personal income tax, nearly double the proportion who support the measure (24%). 
• Over half of the public (53%) expect higher taxes in the future if tax powers are devolved, even as positive perceptions of public spending and local service quality persist. 
• Ipsos Director of Devolution - Rachel Brisley - has unpacked the findings for Politics Home.

New polling data from Ipsos in the UK for Politics Home, conducted 9–15 July 2026, reveals a distinct split in public opinion regarding regional tax-setting powers as ministers and regional leaders continue to discuss further fiscal devolution across Great Britain. While public satisfaction with local communities remains consistently high, the public exhibit clear resistance to devolving personal taxation. 

Commenting on the findings, Rachel Brisley, Research Director for Place and English Devolution at Ipsos in the UK, said:

Our latest research shows that while Britons remain overwhelmingly positive about the communities they live in, local pride does not automatically translate into an appetite for personal fiscal devolution or further powers.

The public draws a firm line between local decision-making and their paycheques, with opposition to regional personal income tax powers outstripping support by nearly two to one.

Interestingly, the public is far more open to devolving business rates and commercial tax powers, where opinion is evenly balanced. 

As Downing Street continues to push the regional devolution agenda, the core challenge for policymakers will be around effectively communicating and visibly demonstrating that taxpayers really have skin the game when it comes to their cash staying locally.

High local satisfaction alongside resistance to personal tax devolution

Public contentment with local areas remains high across Great Britain, though appetite for fiscal decentralisation depends heavily on the type of tax in question. 

• Over 3 in 4 Britons (76%) state they are satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live, virtually unchanged from previous survey waves (75% and 77%), while only 15% express dissatisfaction. 
• Regional variations exist: satisfaction is highest in the Southwest (83%) and South East (81%), whereas residents in the West Midlands report lower satisfaction levels (62%).  
• Nearly 1 in 2 British adults (46%) oppose giving local authorities or regional mayors the power to set a portion of personal income tax, compared to 24% who support the proposal. 
• Opposition to personal income tax devolution remains consistent across regions, regardless of whether areas currently have elected regional mayors (ranging between 36% and 55% opposition). 

Business tax powers divide opinion, as higher taxes are widely anticipated

When considering commercial tax mechanisms rather than personal income, public resistance softens significantly, though economic expectations remain cautious.

• 35% of Britons support giving local authorities or regional mayors tax-setting powers for local businesses, balanced against 33% who oppose the idea. 
• Support for local business tax devolution varies modestly by region, peaking in London (40%) and the North West (40%).  
• More than 1 in 2 (53%) expect overall tax levels to rise in the coming years if income tax powers were devolved further, compared to just 8% who expect lower taxes. 
• Despite tax expectations, 34% of the public perceive public services to be getting better against 28% who feel they are getting worse, while 38% expect overall public spending to increase. 

Notes to Editors:

• For media queries, please contact the Ipsos in the UK Press Office at [email protected] or Rachel Brisley at [email protected].
• For the full findings, please visit the Ipsos website. 
• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 2,867 online British adults aged 16+ using the Ipsos UK KnowledgePanel. Polling was conducted online between 9–15 July 2026.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.