A new Ipsos poll finds that 61% of people want more funding for the National Health Service (NHS), even if it means higher taxes.
Tax rates have become a central policy issue in the election, with the Conservatives promising to cut taxation to its highest rates in decades.
They have also attacked Labour for not ruling out a range of tax increases.
Some 61% of people support increased NHS spending regardless of whether taxes go up, while 16% are opposed and 15% don’t support either option, according to Ipsos.
The next most popular policy area was education, with 44% in favor of increased spending even if it meant higher taxes, 22% opposed, and 24% not supporting either option.
Overall, 40% support increasing government spending in general even if it means raising taxes, 27% are opposed, and 24% don’t support either option.
The survey asked a total of 1,131 adults for their opinions between June 7th and 10th.
Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, said: “Our research shows high levels of public concern about the state of public services, and this is reflected in opinion polls which suggest a growing public willingness to spend more, even if it means higher personal taxes.”
“This proportion is particularly high among Labour and Liberal Democrat voters and older people, although younger generations are less keen on higher personal taxes.”
“Whoever takes over at 11 Downing Street on 5 July, it is clear that a majority are in favour of increasing spending on the NHS – an issue that consistently ranks at the top of the list of issues that British people say are most important.”
“With waiting lists rising and public satisfaction falling, party pledges on the NHS are likely to be key for many voters.”
