Poll Archive

The Times post PBR poll December 2009

Fieldwork: December 9th 2009 - December 10th 2009

published by The Times

Click here to download detailed results 97k

Government borrowing has risen significantly in recent months to fund the measures taken to prevent the collapse of banks and to address the effects of recession. All the main political parties agree that whoever wins the next election, steps will have to be taken to reduce the level of government debt.

At a time of low or no economic growth, there are two main ways in which governments can reduce debt – by increasing taxes and by reducing the amount spent on public services and the running of government departments. Bearing that in mind, which of the following general approaches to the rebalancing of the public finances would you prefer to see?

[Change since September shown in brackets]

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
A roughly equal split between tax increases and cuts in public spending	39% (+3%)	35% (+2%)	42% (+3%)	38% (-2%)	45% (+9%)	34% (-1%)	37% (+3%)
More emphasis on tax increases, with fewer cuts in public spending	12% (+1%)	12% (+2%)	12% (+1%)	15% (+2%)	11% (-4%)	4% (-2%)	17% (+10%)
Just tax increases and no cuts in public spending	12% (-)	12% (-)	12% (-)	11% (+3%)	10% (-3%)	15% (+1%)	11% (-1%)
More emphasis on reduced public spending, with fewer tax increases	14% (-4%)	19% (+1%)	9% (-9%)	16% (-2%)	14% (-7%)	12% (-3%)	12% (-5%)
Just reductions in public spending and no tax increases	16% (-3%)	14% (-7%)	18% (+1%)	16% (-3%)	13% (-)	23% (+3%)	14% (-11%)

	April	July	September	December
A roughly equal split between tax increases and cuts in public spending	37%	38%	36%	39%
More emphasis on tax increases, with fewer cuts in public spending	10%	11%	11%	12%
Just tax increases and no cuts in public spending	11%	11%	12%	12%
More emphasis on reduced public spending, with fewer tax increases	13%	14%	18%	14%
Just reductions in public spending and no tax increases	21%	21%	19%	16%

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
A roughly equal split between tax increases and cuts in public spending	39% (+3%)	35% (+2%)	42% (+3%)	38% (-2%)	45% (+9%)	34% (-1%)	37% (+3%)
More tax increases, fewer/no cuts in public spending	24% (+1%)	24% (+2%)	24% (+1%)	26% (+5%)	21% (-7%)	19% (-1%)	28% (+9%)
More emphasis spending cuts, fewer/no tax increases	30% (-7%)	33% (-6%)	27% (-8%)	32% (-4%)	27% (-7%)	35% (-)	26% (-16%)

If there have to be cuts in public spending, which of the two main parties – Labour or Conservative - would you trust most to cut spending in ways that don't harm important public services and that minimise the negative impact on ordinary people?

(Change since September shown in brackets)

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Conservative	32% (-12%)	33% (-11%)	30% (-15%)	35% (-13%)	33% (-7%)	30% (-16%)	29% (-16%)
Labour	31% (-4%)	32% (-4%)	30% (-4%)	32% (+2%)	29% (-10%)	27% (-9%)	35% (+1%)
Both equally	8% (+5%)	9% (+6%)	7% (+5%)	6% (+3%)	8% (+4%)	10% (+9%)	8% (+5%)
Neither	24% (+12%)	22% (+8%)	25% (+14%)	22% (+7%)	21% (+8%)	28% (+18%)	25% (+14%)
Net Conservative lead over Labour	1% (-8%)	1% (-7%)	0% (-11%)	3% (-15%)	4% (+3%)	3% (-7%)	-6% (-17%)

Some people say that Britain's budget deficit is now so serious that we cannot put off dealing with it any longer and significant cuts in public spending must start next year.

Other people say that, though there will have to be significant spending cuts because of the seriousness of the budget deficit, these cuts should not be made until the economic recovery is much stronger.

Please say which of these is closest to your view, even if neither statement represents exactly what you think?

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Britain's budget deficit is now so serious that we cannot put off dealing with it any longer and significant cuts in public spending must start next year	36%	40%	32%	41%	33%	31%	36%
There will have to be significant spending cuts because of the seriousness of the budget deficit, but these cuts should not be made until the economic recovery is much stronger	59%	55%	62%	53%	62%	64%	57%
Net 'cuts should not be made until recovery is stronger'	23%	15%	30%	12%	29%	33%	21%

With Britain's economy facing problems in the months or years ahead, who do you most trust to deal with it in the best interests of Britain?

	Aug-07	Sep-07	Oct-07	Jan-08	Feb-08	Mar-08	May-08	Aug-08	Sep-08	Oct-08	Nov-08	Dec-08	Jan-09	Mar-09	Apr-09	Jun-09	Oct-09	Dec-09
Brown & Darling	61%	56%	43%	33%	38%	43%	30%	30%	31%	36%	38%	40%	38%	33%	34%	27%	28%	32%
Cameron & Osborne	27%	18%	28%	36%	34%	40%	40%	39%	38%	33%	35%	31%	35%	37%	37%	39%	41%	46%
Neither/Don't know	12%	26%	29%	31%	28%	17%	30%	31%	31%	31%	27%	29%	27%	30%	29%	34%	31%	22%
Brown & Darling lead	34%	38%	15%	-3%	4%	3%	-10%	-9%	-7%	3%	3%	9%	3%	-4%	-3%	-12%	-13%	-14%

In today's Pre-Budget Report statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alastair Darling announced some measures to start addressing Britain's budget deficit. I am going to read out some of the measures he announced. Please say in each case if it is, from what you've heard, something you would support or oppose. If you don't have a clear view either way, please say so.

A one-off 50% tax on bankers' bonuses of more than £25,000

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Support	78%	77%	79%	86%	72%	79%	75%
Oppose	18%	19%	16%	10%	26%	17%	17%
Net support	60%	58%	63%	76%	46%	62%	58%

All public sector pay increases to be capped at 1% for two years from 2011

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Support	61%	62%	59%	61%	67%	57%	56%
Oppose	32%	30%	34%	36%	29%	33%	32%
Net support	29%	32%	25%	25%	38%	24%	24%

National insurance rates to rise by 0.5% from April 2011

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Support	51%	53%	49%	56%	60%	37%	47%
Oppose	41%	39%	42%	39%	35%	52%	40%
Net support	10%	14%	7%	17%	25%	-15%	7%

Contributions to public sector pensions to be cut by £1 billion a year

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Support	38%	48%	29%	41%	37%	34%	40%
Oppose	54%	49%	59%	51%	57%	60%	49%
Net support	-16%	-1%	-30%	-10%	-20%	-26%	-9%

From what you've heard, do you think that the measures announced by the Chancellor will be sufficient to deal with Britain's economic and financial problems? If you feel you don't have enough information or knowledge to answer this question, please say ‘don't know'.

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE
Yes	12%	16%	9%	15%	12%	10%	12%
No	39%	43%	37%	39%	41%	42%	35%
Don't know	48%	42%	55%	46%	47%	48%	52%
Net support	-27%	-27%	-28%	-24%	-29%	-32%	-23%

Populus interviewed a random sample of 514 adults aged 18+ by telephone between December 9th & 10th 2009. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For a full description of the methods we use, please click here.

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