Four fifths of British voters say planned energy price hikes in January will have a medium to high impact on their finances, a new WeThink poll has revealed.

As Ofgem announced a 5% increase in the energy price cap, pollsters asked Brits what impact it would have, with 40% saying a high impact, 42% a medium impact and only 18% saying a low impact.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement was welcomed by some commentators as a tax-cut bonanza and seen by others in the context of the largest tax burden on Brits for 70 years.

WeThink also asked voters if the Chancellor’s statement was merely a pre-election ‘crowd pleaser’. Nearly two thirds (65%) agreed it was, with only 11% disagreeing. 24% said they didn’t know.

ON CHRISTMAS SPENDING

WeThink also asked voters whether or not they would be reducing their festive spending compared to previous years. The pollsters asked the same question last year, with changes in brackets.

More than half (58%) agreed they would have to reduce spending at Christmas compared to previous years - a four-point reduction on last year.

One fifth (19%) said they disagreed, a six-point increase compared to 2022, and 23% said neither, a two-point decrease.

WeThink also asked the 58% of cost-cutters where the savings would be made, with a quarter (25%) spending less on children’s gifts this year and nearly three quarters (74%) cutting back on gifts for adults.

ON VOTER INTENTION

In our regular weekly voter intention trackers, Labour’s lead over the Conservatives has dropped by two points to 18, while the Prime Minister’s approval rating rose by four to –20. 

PRIME MINISTER APPROVAL

SIR KEIR STARMER APPROVAL

BEST PRIME MINISTER

BREXIT TRACKER (All respondents)

BREXIT TRACKER (excluding don't know / won't vote)

This week’s poll was conducted on 23rd-24th November 2023, questioned 1,119 people and is weighted to a national representative population.

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