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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Britons Want (But Don’t Expect) Lower Taxes
Credit:UN/DPI Photo by Evan Schneider
Gordon Brown
(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain believe duties and contributions should be reduced, according to a poll by YouGov for the Taxpayers Alliance. 44 per cent of respondents want the next government to lower taxes and spending.
Chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown of the Labour party has been in charge of Britain's finances since 1997—the longest continuous tenure for any public servant in the position. Britain must renew the House of Commons by June 2006. There is growing speculation that an election will take place in May 2005.
Yesterday, Brown delivered this year's budget to the House of Commons. 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."
Conservative leader Michael Howard criticized the budget, saying, "(Labour's) only answer is to tax, to spend and to waste—to get people to vote now and pay later."
Britons believe their contributions will increase under either of the country's two main political parties. 91 per cent of respondents believe their taxes will go up under a new Labour administration, while 71 per cent feel the same thing would happen if the Conservatives form the government.
Polling Data
Should whichever party wins the general election pledge to increase or reduce taxes and spending, or are the present levels about right?
Increase taxes and spending | 12% |
Reduce taxes and spending | 44% |
Present levels are about right | 33% |
Don't know | 11% |
If (Labour / Conservatives) is returned to power after the next election, do you think taxes will...?
Labour | Tories | |
Go up by a lot | 35% | 26% |
Go up by a little | 44% | 30% |
Not go up very much | 12% | 15% |
Not go up at all | 2% | 9% |
Go down | -- | 10% |
Don't know | 7% | 11% |
Source: YouGov / The Taxpayers Alliance
Methodology: Online interviews to 2,002 British adults, conducted from Mar. 11 to Mar. 14, 2005. No margin of error was provided.