Six out of 10 support more NHS spending even if it means paying more tax - poll

Six out of 10 Britons back more NHS spending even if it means their personal taxes would increase, a poll has found.

Ipsos found 61% of people were willing to accept higher personal taxes if it meant more money being put into the health service.

Only 16% said they wanted tax cuts even if it meant less funding for the NHS.

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The NHS was the only service where a majority said they would be willing to pay more tax if it provided more funding, but 40% or more said the same about defence, policing and education.

On public services more broadly, some 40% said they would accept higher taxes if it meant more funding, up slightly from 38% in February.

Some 27% of people said they wanted to see tax cuts even if it meant less spending on public services, down from 33% four months ago.

Some 46% of over-55s said they would pay more tax to fund higher spending, compared to 20% who preferred tax cuts.

But among those aged 18-34, only 34% wanted higher spending and 37% preferred tax cuts.

Gideon Skinner, Ipsos senior UK director of politics, said the results reflected “high levels of public concern over the state of public services”.

He added: “This is particularly high among Labour and Lib Dem voters, and among older people – although younger generations are less keen on increasing their personal tax bill.”