Twice as many Britons support tax increases to fund public services as those who prefer cuts, even if it means further deterioration of services, according to a study by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust. The survey of 5,572 people found that despite nearly two in five households (39%) facing serious financial difficulties—up from 28% in 2019—a significant portion of the public backs higher taxes.
About a third of respondents said they would support raising their own taxes if it benefited others through measures such as more free childcare, cheaper energy tariffs for low-income households, or increased child benefit. This willingness to accept personal financial sacrifice reflects a nuanced view of trade-offs between household finances and national needs.
Mubin Haq, the trust’s chief executive, said: “People realise in terms of what the parties are promising on public services that there is a massive gap on what’s needed and what money is available. That is why the public backs these tax rises, because they would rather have that than even more deterioration of public services.”
Both Labour and the Conservatives have ruled out increases to income tax and VAT, while the Tories have proposed cuts to national insurance, stamp duty, and a pensioners’ tax break. Labour has been reportedly considering wealth taxes to rebuild public services. The Institute for Fiscal Studies warns that the next government will need to cut unprotected departments by £10bn–£20bn or raise taxes to reduce debt.
Prof Sharon Collard of the University of Bristol said: “The findings clearly show that people in the UK have much more nuanced views on these key election issues than the media headlines would sometimes have us believe. They understand there are trade-offs between what is good for their own household finances and what is good for the country overall.”
