Two in five Britons want increased spending on public services - even if it means they pay more in tax

New polling from Ipsos has found that two in five (40%) Britons say they support increasing spending on public services, even if it means that they personally pay more tax. A quarter (27%) would rather cut taxes even if that means less spending for public services, and another quarter (24%) choose neither option.  

Support for increased spending rises to 52% of those who voted Labour in 2019, as opposed to 35% of those who voted Conservative.  There is also an age split, with 46% of over 55s wanting higher spending (20% prefer tax cuts) but among 18-34 years 34% wanting higher spending and 37% tax cuts.

When asked about specific issues, 6 in 10 (61%) of Britons support the next Chancellor increasing spending on the NHS, even if it means they personally pay more in taxes. This is followed by education (44%), policing (41%), and defence (40%).  The public are most split on increasing their own personal taxes to pay for higher spending on green projects to reduce the impact of climate change (34% support higher spending even if that means higher personal taxes, 29% would prefer cutting taxes).

Commenting on the findings, Gideon Skinner, Senior UK Director of Politics at Ipsos, said:

Ipsos research has shown the high levels of public concern over the state of public services, reflected in this polling suggesting some public appetite for increased spending, even if it means higher personal taxes. This is particularly high among Labour and LibDem voters, and among older people – although younger generations are less keen on increasing their personal tax bill.
No matter who ends up in Number 11 Downing Street on the 5th of July, there is also a clear majority for increasing spending on the NHS – an issue which consistently ranks among the top issues that Britons say matter to them the most. With rising waiting lists and declining public satisfaction, party pledges on the NHS are likely to be a critical factor for many voters.

Technical Note
Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,131 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between 7-10 June 2024. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.