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| Spending Review: poll shows where public want more government spending | Spending Review: poll shows where public want more government spending |
| (3 months later) | |
| It is not easy to get data on where people want to see the government axe fall as the most likely response is 'nowhere'. But by asking about priorities for government spending it's possible to get a clearer sense of where austerity measures are likely to cause outrage as opposed to frustration. | It is not easy to get data on where people want to see the government axe fall as the most likely response is 'nowhere'. But by asking about priorities for government spending it's possible to get a clearer sense of where austerity measures are likely to cause outrage as opposed to frustration. |
| The British Social Attitudes Survey, run by NatCen, asks 3,000 people every year what they think about the country they live in. Some of the questions they ask give a different perspective to yesterday's announcement from the chancellor - especially since because NatCen have been asking those questions since 1983. | The British Social Attitudes Survey, run by NatCen, asks 3,000 people every year what they think about the country they live in. Some of the questions they ask give a different perspective to yesterday's announcement from the chancellor - especially since because NatCen have been asking those questions since 1983. |
| Health vs. Education | Health vs. Education |
| Asking people about their first and second preferences for government spending creates data that has to be treated with care - it does not say anything about the importance of specific departments but it does suggest how people's priorities have changed over time. | Asking people about their first and second preferences for government spending creates data that has to be treated with care - it does not say anything about the importance of specific departments but it does suggest how people's priorities have changed over time. |
| Over the past two decades, policing, prisons and defence have risen up the list of concerns, detracting some of the nation's focus from the NHS. | Over the past two decades, policing, prisons and defence have risen up the list of concerns, detracting some of the nation's focus from the NHS. |
| The phrasing of the question (where do you want to see 'extra' spending) is something of a moot point in today's context since there isn't much extra spending money to go around. If we assume that the places where people want extra spending are also the places where they would least like to see cuts, it does suggest that the chancellor's emphasis on protecting policing was a politically sensible move. | The phrasing of the question (where do you want to see 'extra' spending) is something of a moot point in today's context since there isn't much extra spending money to go around. If we assume that the places where people want extra spending are also the places where they would least like to see cuts, it does suggest that the chancellor's emphasis on protecting policing was a politically sensible move. |
| Tax less vs. Spend more | Tax less vs. Spend more |
| Attitudes to tax and spending have also changed quite dramatically over time. | Attitudes to tax and spending have also changed quite dramatically over time. |
| In the 90s, more than half of respondents said they believed that taxes should be raised so that government could spend more but in more recent years, that has dropped to just 36% with more people believing that consistency - keeping taxes and spending at current levels - is the most desirable option. | In the 90s, more than half of respondents said they believed that taxes should be raised so that government could spend more but in more recent years, that has dropped to just 36% with more people believing that consistency - keeping taxes and spending at current levels - is the most desirable option. |
| It is also particularly interesting how little responses varied by income or earnings. In 2011, when the respondents were split into five groups, from the richest to poorest, the largest difference was to be found in those that believe that taxes and spending should be kept the same: 48% agreed from the group earning less than £1,200 a month while 56% agreed from the group earning more than £3,701 - hardly a gulf of opinion. | It is also particularly interesting how little responses varied by income or earnings. In 2011, when the respondents were split into five groups, from the richest to poorest, the largest difference was to be found in those that believe that taxes and spending should be kept the same: 48% agreed from the group earning less than £1,200 a month while 56% agreed from the group earning more than £3,701 - hardly a gulf of opinion. |
| Benefits for the old vs Benefits for the young | Benefits for the old vs Benefits for the young |
| As we've noticed elsewhere, despite the fact that the state pension accounts for the biggest chunk of the benefits bill, support for this benefit means that for the chancellor to have mentioned them in yesterday's speech would have been a very weak political strategy. | As we've noticed elsewhere, despite the fact that the state pension accounts for the biggest chunk of the benefits bill, support for this benefit means that for the chancellor to have mentioned them in yesterday's speech would have been a very weak political strategy. |
| So what's the overall verdict? Here's Miranda Phillips, Research Director of NatCen's take on the spending round: | So what's the overall verdict? Here's Miranda Phillips, Research Director of NatCen's take on the spending round: |
| British Social Attitudes tells us year in, year out, that the public want government to spend more on health and education. It is no surprise then that the Comprehensive Spending Review continues the ringfencing of spending on health and education in schools. Interestingly the other ringfenced budget is overseas aid, which is a priority for only a fraction of the British public. The Chancellor's decision to place a cap on the welfare budget is right in line with falling support for extra spending on social security, borne out in much of our research. And recent upturns in the public prioritising spending on housing and help for industry mean that the Spending Review's commitment to £3bn of capital investment in housing is in tune with public attitudes. | British Social Attitudes tells us year in, year out, that the public want government to spend more on health and education. It is no surprise then that the Comprehensive Spending Review continues the ringfencing of spending on health and education in schools. Interestingly the other ringfenced budget is overseas aid, which is a priority for only a fraction of the British public. The Chancellor's decision to place a cap on the welfare budget is right in line with falling support for extra spending on social security, borne out in much of our research. And recent upturns in the public prioritising spending on housing and help for industry mean that the Spending Review's commitment to £3bn of capital investment in housing is in tune with public attitudes. |
| What did you think about the spending review? Do you think these survey results are an accurate depiction of the current British taxation temperament? Let us know by posting a comment below or tweeting to @MonaChalabi | What did you think about the spending review? Do you think these survey results are an accurate depiction of the current British taxation temperament? Let us know by posting a comment below or tweeting to @MonaChalabi |
| Download the data | Download the data |
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