(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain believe their duties and contributions will go up if their current government is re-elected, according to a poll by Communicate Research published in The Independent. 65 per cent of respondents believe taxes will go up if the Labour party wins the parliamentary ballot.

Britain must renew the House of Commons by June 2006. There is growing speculation that an election will take place in May 2005. On Mar. 16, chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown delivered this year's budget to the lower house of Parliament. Brown defined the document—which includes tax relief for home buyers and retired pensioners—as a balance between "tax cuts that are affordable, investments that are essential and stability that is paramount."

On Mar. 24, Conservative deputy chairman Howard Flight resigned after publicly suggesting that the party is concealing the actual amount of planned spending reductions because it has to "win an election first." 52 per cent of respondents believe the Conservatives would make substantial cuts in public services.

Last month, the Labour government announced a $250 billion U.S. investment in the National Health Service (NHS). The strategy increases the average funding per person from $1,685 U.S. in 2002, to $2,579 U.S. in 2008. Health secretary John Reid vowed to ensure "that the most deprived areas, where there are appalling inequalities in life expectancy and concentrated problems of disease such as lung cancer or heart disease, receive extra investment."

Conservative leader Michael Howard criticized the current state of the NHS in the House of Commons, pointing out the case of Margaret Dixon—a woman whose shoulder surgery was cancelled seven times. The Tories have proposed paying up to half of the total cost of a regular NHS operation to those who are forced to seek private care. 53 per cent of respondents trust Labour more than the Conservatives to look after the NHS.

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? - If Labour is re-elected I would expect taxes to go up.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? - If the Conservatives were elected I would expect them to make substantial cuts in public services.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? - I trust Labour more than the Conservatives to look after the NHS

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