Voters opt for cuts rather than tax rises

MORE than half of UK voters believe the next government should reduce the deficit by reining in public spending rather than increasing taxes, research has claimed. Scots are the most in favour of using tax hikes to address the black hole in public finances, with 21 per cent telling a survey by technology provider 1st-The Exchange that 75 per cent or more of the deficit should be filled through higher taxes.

The research found that 34 per cent of people across the UK think the public deficit should be reduced through public spending cuts and no increase in taxes, while a further 17 per cent want a 75:25 split between spending cuts and tax rises to tackle the deficit and less than a third want a 50:50 solution. But while most respondents were against tax rises, more than a third supported the government's tax increases for the wealthy.