More than half of UK households support investment in public services even if it means they are taxed more, according to new analysis.
As part of research commissioned by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, around 5,600 households were asked what policies the next government should prioritise.
The majority (56%) supported increased spending on public services even if it meant tax rises for households like theirs, while a quarter (24%) said taxes should be reduced for households like theirs, even if it meant less spending on public services.
But when people were asked what policies the next government should prioritise, the most common answer was a reduction in council tax (43%).
The policy that people were most likely to view as good for the country but not for their own household was more hours of free childcare.
Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust CEO Mubin Haq said: ‘During the election campaign both Labour and the Conservatives have ruled out increases to our major sources of tax.
‘As a result this is likely to mean significant cuts to a number of public services which are already visibly struggling.
‘The public are clear as to which they would prefer – tax increases before public spending cuts, even if this means higher tax rises for their household.’
