A new poll has revealed that most voters believe the wealthy should contribute more tax to fund the UK’s struggling public services.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) survey found that 71% of respondents agreed that “the wealthy should pay more tax to fund decent public services.” Only 29% thought they already paid their fair share.
Meanwhile, 65% of voters said they would have more trust in politicians if they delivered better public services.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said the results sent a clear message. “Voters know how to protect public services and avoid more austerity. As Keir Starmer himself said—‘those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heaviest burden’.”
💷 Labour under pressure as Rachel Reeves prepares Spring Statement
The findings come as Chancellor Rachel Reeves gears up for the Spring Statement. With fears of spending cuts looming, she has already admitted the UK economy is “not growing fast enough.”
Speaking to Sky News, Reeves said, “I’m not satisfied with the numbers we see at the moment.” However, she insisted there would be “real-terms” increases in spending every year and denied Labour was heading towards austerity.
In an interview with BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, she defended Labour’s record:
“Last year, I put £100 billion more into capital spending than the previous government had committed to. We put more than £20 billion into the NHS. That is a far cry from what we’ve seen under Conservative governments in the last 14 years.”
However, she refused to confirm whether unprotected departments—like the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office—would face cuts.
🛑 Job cuts and service backlogs spark criticism
The Chancellor also confirmed that around 10,000 civil service jobs will be cut, aiming to save £2 billion per year by 2029-30.
“We are, by the end of this Parliament, making a commitment that we will cut the costs of running government by 15%,” Reeves said.
But union leaders have warned that this will hit frontline services hard.
Public and Commercial Services Union General Secretary Fran Heathcote said:
“You hear it every day from the public. People waiting too long on the phone to pay tax. Jobseekers rushed through the system in ten minutes because there aren’t enough staff. Victims of crime waiting until 2027 for their cases to be heard. A backlog in the asylum system that’s pushing up hotel costs.”
She added: “Cutting jobs won’t just hurt our members—it will hurt the public and the services they rely on.”
📉 Labour MPs uneasy after £5bn benefits cut
Reeves’ Spring Statement comes as Labour MPs express concern over last week’s decision to slash £5 billion from sickness and disability benefits.
More details on the cuts—including their impact on poverty levels—are expected this week.
Labour MP Brian Leishman has called the move “inhumane.”
“These are the people we should be throwing our arms around and helping,” he told Holyrood Magazine. “Instead, this decision will impoverish the most vulnerable and shows a basic lack of humanity.”
As Labour prepares to set out its economic plans, one thing is clear—voters want public services fixed, and they believe the wealthiest should foot the bill.
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