UK Public favour spending cuts

Graham_Devon

Interesting poll, though it's only a poll of 1005 people.

Conservatives look to be winning on the cuts front.

In essence:
- 59% believe there should be benefits or tax credit cuts.
- "Almost half" believe there should be a public sector pay freeze for one year.
- A majority favour the top 10% public sector earners taking a pay cut of 5%.
- 44% agree with the tory view that the UK should not delay cutting the defecit.
- 38% agree with the labour view that it's too risky to cut borrowing now.
- 63% want to protect the NHS from cuts.

Just found it interesting that (thankfully) people want the cuts to start now rather than delaying the inevitable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8363114.stm

boomerangs

Alternatively go on supporting the Labour party and continue borrowing money like there's no tomorrow. And printing even more funny money too. It's magic, I can't believe no-one ever thought of it before.

lostinrates

When it actually comes to the...er...crunch:o I wonder if people will feel that way. It seems to me people are very happy to think spending not on them should be cut, but want to keep things that benefit them....whether that be free NHS appointments/subsidised prescritions...or benefits....or various tax credits...or whatever.

I'm not saying that I am against cuts, I am pro cuts, but I think saying you are pro cuts and voting yourself what will amount to a drop in income at the polling station isa different thing and harder won.

Wookster

Never underestimate Rewired's capacity to thank

I don't think people realise the extent to which cuts are necessary. We are in for savage cuts for an extended period.

nearlynew

I love rewired.

prowla

The problem we've had is that NuLab have been throwing other people's money around like confetti, but with little or no result, or even a severe degradation (education, policing).
Based on the fact that that is unsustainable, cuts are inevitable.
The real trick will be to implement cost cuts without impacting services.

CLAPTON

Did the poll start by saying that

-there is general agreement by serious economic commentators..i.e. the Economist, the financial/business writers in the Telegraph and Times, most acedemic economists, BoE

that the premature reduction is government spending (i.e. big cuts) will plunge us back into a deeper recession
-one in which you may lose your job
-GDP will drop again
etc.

Cuts are inevitable ... but as the guy said just not yet.

Wookster

CLAPTON wrote: »

Cuts are inevitable ... but as the guy said just not yet.

No but after the election the timer will be ticking.

Masomnia

Slightly disingenuous summary of the article there. Reading the first paragraph it says 'The survey found 59% of the 1,005 people polled believed there should be benefit or tax credit cuts - rather than tax hikes - to lower the deficit.'

Dream on. I think those people are going to be disappointed when they realize we're going to get both.

LizEstelle

People are always in favour of tax increases - on things other than income tax and on matters which don't affect them.

People are always in favour of spending cuts - on teachers' salaries at schools attended by other people's children and on roads which they themselves don't use.

Get real.

Graham_Devon

LizEstelle wrote: »

People are always in favour of tax increases - on things other than income tax and on matters which don't affect them.

People are always in favour of spending cuts - on teachers' salaries at schools attended by other people's children and on roads which they themselves don't use.

Get real.

Some people can see past themselves.

Seriously.