Three-quarters of voters said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s budget did not go far enough to help struggling families or beleaguered public services, a new poll has found. 

Pollsters at WeThink found 75% said the budget measures didn’t go far enough to help people in financial dire straights, with 25% agreeing they did go far enough. 

Meanwhile, 74% said Budget ‘24 did not go far enough to help public services versus 26% who said it did. 

The Chancellor unveiled a raft of measures in his Spring Budget on 6^th March which included national insurance rate cuts, a freeze on booze and fuel duty and increased child benefit taper. 

Individually, the measures were broadly approved by voters:

Child benefit taper increased?

Nex tax on vaping products?

Increased air passenger duty for all non-economy flights?

• 65% approve
• 35% disapprove  

Fuel duty frozen at current level and existing 5p cut extended? 

British ISA giving investors a £5k extra tax-free allowance that must be invested in British companies?

• 73% approve
• 27% disapprove  

Extending by one year the windfall tax on profits from North Sea oil and gas companies?   

• 71% approve
• 29% disapprove  

Alcohol duty frozen until February 2025?

National Insurance will be reduced by a further 2pm from April, taking it from 10% to 8%, giving the average worker another £450 a year. What impact will this have on your family finances?

• 4% Great deal
• 21% A fair amount
• 34% Not much 
• 36% No real impact
• 5% Not sure 

The Government froze income tax brackets which will drag more taxpayers into paying tax, or into paying tax at a higher rate. Do you think income tax brackets should remain frozen?   

• 22% stay frozen
• 30% increase them
• 22% decrease them
• 26% don’t know

ON MPs USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY LIBEL DAMAGES 

It emerged this week that Science Secretary Michelle Donelan used £15k of taxpayer money to pay damages after she falsely accused an academic of supporting Hamas and was sued for libel. 

Is it appropriate for an MP to use public money in this way?

ON VOTER INTENTION 

Sir Keir Starmer’s net approval PLUNGED this week as we recorded his lowest-ever score of –7. Labour maintains a 19-point lead in the polls and 'don't know' was the biggest winner in our weekly ‘Best PM’ tracker.

ON BREXIT

BREXIT (All Respondents)

This week’s poll was conducted on 7th - 8th March, questioned 1,216 people and is weighted to a national representative population.

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