New polling commissioned by the trade union UNISON shows that almost three-quarters of people in the North of England back a rise in tax for large corporations in Wednesday's Budget.
The YouGov survey, which included 538 people in the North, found that 74% support increasing taxes on big firms, 62% would like banks to face higher bills, and 88% back closing tax loopholes and a crackdown on tax avoidance. The same poll suggests 68% support higher taxes on the wealthiest in the country.
Public sector recognition
The polling followed questions on whether public sector workers receive the recognition they deserve. In the North, 54% said this group received "too little" appreciation, while just 5% said they received too much.
The poll then asked what those surveyed would support to better fund public services. It was carried out between October 11 and October 12. Nationally, more than 2,000 people responded, with results broadly similar to the Northern group.
UNISON calls for investment
The research comes a day before the Budget, which will be the first delivered by Chancellor John Healey. UNISON figures said the data showed that funds raised in the Budget must be put towards greater investment, fair pay and insourcing.
The union's general secretary Andrea Egan said: "Massive investment to rebuild public services and restore wages is urgently needed. It should be paid for by taxing the wealthiest. These are common sense policies, backed by a large majority of the public.
"Nurses, paramedics, social workers, teaching assistants and street cleaners are the backbone of this country. But public service workers – and the services we deliver – have been pushed to breaking point by years of underfunding and cuts.
"Communities deserve better. The Chancellor must use the Budget to deliver a bailout for public services, through proper investment, fair pay and bringing outsourced services back in-house."
Chancellor's Budget promises
On Tuesday evening, Mr Healey released a video message. He has promised to use his first Budget to give households and businesses "breathing space today" from everyday costs while taking action to bring down energy bills for good in the future.
The Chancellor is expected to announce a freeze in fuel duty as well as plans for longer-term reforms as he seeks to make Britain "more resilient" from global shocks. He insisted the Government would move to ease the cost of living "responsibly" by sticking to Labour's self-imposed fiscal rules.
He said: "Breathing space for today and fresh hope for the future. That's what today's Budget will deliver. The world's a highly uncertain place. Conflicts abroad are pushing up energy prices, and the cost of living here at home – piling pressure on families, on businesses, and on our public finances.
"But Britain's economy is showing real signs of resilience: investments up, productivity is growing, and we had the joint fastest growth in the G7 in the first half of this year."
Mr Healey added: "This Budget is designed to give households breathing space from some of the everyday costs, provide targeted support for businesses and self-employed people, and to start the long-term action needed to get energy costs down for good."
The Budget will be delivered on Wednesday.
