It comes as the Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver the Spring Statement on Wednesday amid fears unprotected government departments will see spending squeezed
Rachel Reeves should prioritise increased spending on public services, a new poll shows.
It comes as the Chancellor prepares to deliver the Spring Statement on Wednesday amid fears unprotected government departments will see spending squeezed.
The survey for the Autonomy think-tank asked voters which of four areas – public services, the military, clean energy, or a Universal Basic Income – should be prioritised. Over half – 53% – ranked public services such as health, education and policing, first.
Almost 20% opted for clean energy – including savings on energy bills – while 16% said the military should be prioritised in the survey by Survation pollsters.
Just over one in ten (12%) said the government should prioritise Universal Basic Income, which typically involves giving all citizens a flat-rate payment.
The Labour MP Nadia Whittome said: “It’s no surprise that after more than a decade of Conservative austerity, the public wants to see more money for public services.
“From long waits in the NHS, to a lack of social care, councils on the brink of collapse, crumbling schools, and inadequate benefits, the services that we all rely on no longer function as they should.”
She added: “Investment in Universal Basic Services is a vote-winning policy that would improve people’s lives and tackle the threat of the far right. This should be the government’s priority in the Spring Statement.”
The survey of 1,203 votes was conducted between 21-24 February – just days before Keir Starmer announced a hike in defence spending in the face of Russian aggression.
At the time he told MPs the UK faced a “generational challenge” as he confirmed the government will spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2027.
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But in a controversial move, which led to the resignation of one minister, the PM said the move would be funded by a cut to the overseas aid budget. More details are expected to be set out on Wednesday as Ms Reeves delivers the long-awaited Spring Statement.
In recent weeks the Chancellor has unveiled around £5billion in cuts to sickness and disability benefits – prompting anger from Labour MPs and charities. And as part of measures to save £2billion-per-year on the cost of running government by the end of the decade, around 10,000 civil service jobs face being axed.
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