03 07 2017

Support For Low-Tax UK Policies Falling: Survey

Almost half of British taxpayers would support higher taxes to fund increased public spending on health, education, and social benefits, the highest level for more than a decade, according to a survey by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).

The 34th annual British Social Attitudes report found that 48 percent of people in the UK favor higher taxes, 44 percent say the tax burden is appropriate, and four percent sought further tax cuts (resulting in lower government spending).

"People's tolerance for austerity is drying up, even if that means higher taxes," said Roger Harding, Head of Public Attitudes, National Centre for Social Research. "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."