30 June 2017

The Tories' jubilation over the continued freeze on emergency service workers' pay reveals the party is out of touch with public opinion, as a new study shows the tide has turned against austerity.

As many as 83% of respondents in the latest British Social Attitudes survey of 2,942 people from the National Centre for Social Research wanted the government to spend more on health.

Furthermore, 71% said they want more investment in education; 57% said more money should go to the police; and 83% backed government financing of projects that would create new jobs (up from 72% in 2006).

Workers were also happy to cover the cost, with 48% saying they wanted to pay higher taxes to fund improved public services and increased government spending. This represents the highest vote in favour of increased taxes in over a decade.

In further evidence of a swing to the left, 42% said they wanted to see the government engage in more measures to redistribute wealth from those who are better-off to those who are poorer – up from 34% before the financial crisis.

The Tories' flagship "Red Tape Bonfire" also appears to be losing support, as there was a fall in the proportion of respondents who wanted to see cuts in the regulation of business to only 34%, down from 40% in 2006.

"People’s tolerance for austerity is drying up, even if that means higher taxes. This leftwards tilt on tax and spend is matched by a long-running conservatism on national security and law and order. In all, people want a more active state that’s firm but fairer," Roger Harding, Head of Public Attitudes for the National Centre for Social Research, said.