The British public are sceptical that Brexit will lead to improvements in public services, according to new research.
The business advisory firm Deloitte commissioned Ipsos MORI to interview 1,099 UK citizens to assess how they see Brexit impacting public services and how they have been affected by austerity.
41% of respondents said leaving the EU will be bad for UK public services, including 20% who think they will be much worse.
Just 28% of those asked thought Brexit will be good for public services, and 26% thinks it will make no difference.
More than half (59%) expect that taxes will be higher as a result of Brexit, with 12% expecting much higher tax levels. Only 32% expect that public spending will be higher.
Respondents in London and Northern Ireland are the most pessimistic about the impact of Brexit on services.
When asked to list two or three policy areas that should be a priority for Government in the coming year, 57% of respondents cited the NHS, ahead of dealing with Brexit at 33%.
Education and schools (30%), the economy (24%) and immigration (22%) also ranked as top public priorities.
Devolution (2%), universities and higher education (5%) and deficit reduction (5%) were the lowest priorities.
‘A large proportion of the public, although mainly those more likely to have voted to remain, see Brexit as having a negative impact on UK public services,’ said Rebecca George, head of public sector at Deloitte.
‘On the other hand, groups who were more likely to vote leave, such as older people, were more likely to think that we will see no difference in service quality, while only around a quarter think Brexit will be positive for public services.
‘There will be some difficult years ahead for UK public services and the challenge on government is to maintain public services and continue their transformation, all while delivering the UK’s exit from the EU.’
