There is major public support for taxing the wealthy, big business and banks, as well as closing loopholes that enable them to pay less tax, to help fund public services, new YouGov polling shows today (Tuesday).
The research, commissioned by UNISON, comes a week before the Budget and is published as the union unveils statues outside Parliament today to highlight the vital role of staff delivering essential services.
Nearly seven out of ten (69%) people support increasing taxes on the wealthiest individuals to fund public services, the YouGov data shows, while three quarters (74%) agree large corporations should pay a bigger share. Three in five (61%) back tax rises for banks.
Raising tax levels for the wealthiest in order to fund public services was supported by almost half of both Reform (46%) and Conservative (47%) voters. Across the board, a majority of respondents believed spending on public services was too low.
With the budget looming, UNISON says the government must recognise the widespread support for strengthening public services by making the wealthiest pay their fair share.
The union says that funds raised must then be used for greater investment, fair pay and the massive wave of insourcing promised by Labour.
UNISON says it’s encouraging the government appears to be considering getting banks to pay more, which is in tune with public feeling.
UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan said: “Massive investment to rebuild public services and restore wages is urgently needed. It should be paid for by taxing the wealthiest. These are common sense policies, backed by a large majority of the public.
“Nurses, paramedics, social workers, teaching assistants and street cleaners are the backbone of this country. But public service workers – and the services we deliver – have been pushed to breaking point by years of underfunding and cuts.
“Communities deserve better. The Chancellor must use the Budget to deliver a bailout for public services, through proper investment, fair pay and bringing outsourced services back in-house.”