Half of UK Agrees Labour Must Make ‘Difficult Decisions’ on Public Finances

According to new polling, half of the British public agrees with the Labour Government that “difficult decisions” must be taken to control public spending - including means-testing the winter fuel allowance. The polling, conducted for the Good Growth Foundation, has found that 50% of the public think that the Government needs to take tough decisions to control public spending, rising to 67% of Labour voters.

The Good Growth Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a fairer economy, found only 25% disagree with the Government’s assessment  that it must make difficult decisions. A significant majority of the public, 67%, believe the current state of the country’s finances is either “somewhat bad” or “very bad”, and voters largely blame the previous Conservative Government. When asked who they blame most for the current state of public finances, 44% of voters named the Conservatives, increasing to 66% of Labour voters in the 2024 General Election. Overall, 31% blame Labour.

The findings indicate that the public may be more understanding of Labour’s approach to public finances than previously thought. Increasing borrowing to invest in infrastructure such as new hospitals, roads and rail networks is also popular, with 48% of the population in support.

Ahead of the Budget, the public is open to the idea of increasing taxes on businesses. Over a third support increasing taxes on businesses, even if it would hurt growth, while 30% oppose the idea and 29% are in the middle. Similarly, the case still needs to be made to convince people that borrowing to invest in green energy is worth it to the public purse. Just over a third believe the Government should borrow to invest in green energy, while just under a third disagrees and 27% neither agrees or disagrees.

The Director of The Good Growth Foundation, Praful Nargund, said: “Despite the difficult start to Government, our research indicates that voters largely remain signed up to Labour’s approach to managing the public finances. Their message is clearly breaking through, particularly with Labour voters. Across the board people are supportive or open minded to giving the Government the space needed to make difficult decisions.

“There is particularly strong support for borrowing to invest in infrastructure, but the public remains to be convinced on borrowing to invest in clean energy. Nevertheless, the majority of the public is supportive or open-minded to the idea.”

Notes to Editors

Polling Data

Polling was gathered by JL Partners.

Fieldwork: 11th to 13th October 2024

Sample size: 2,000 GB Adults

Sampling mode: Online panel sample

Quotas and weights: Quota-ed and weighted to be representative of Great Britain on age, gender, region, education, 2024 general election vote, ethnicity and political attention.

About the Good Growth Foundation

The Good Growth Foundation (GGF) is a think tank that campaigns for a fairer economy, so growth can work for good. Following the UK’s lost decade of growth, we campaign and conduct research to advocate for economic growth that will reduce inequality and open access to opportunity for people of all backgrounds.

GGF was founded by Praful Nargund, who ran as the Labour parliamentary candidate in Islington North in the 2024 General Election and sat on Labour’s Council of Skills Advisors, where he shaped education policy. The chair of our Advisory Board, Tim Allan, is a former Downing Street advisor to Tony Blair and the founder of Portland Communications.

Contact

GGF’s press office can be reached via email at contact@goodgrowthfoundation.com.