Most voters would keep top 50p tax rate

Most voters are against scrapping the 50p tax rate for top earners – including half of Tory supporters, a poll has suggested.

The findings of the ComRes survey underline the scale of the political gamble being considered by the Chancellor.

The change, which will benefit those earning £150,000-plus salaries, is opposed by 58 per cent of voters polled, compared with 21 per cent in favour. Most vehemently hostile are Liberal Democrat supporters, 70 per cent of whom said they wanted it to stay despite the party leadership accepting the change in return for extra taxes on wealth.

While they did not want them for the wealthiest, however, the survey showed voters were increasingly keen for the Chancellor to make tax cuts a priority on Wednesday.

Nearly two-thirds do not believe the government is doing enough to get the economy going and trust in Mr Osborne and Prime Minister David Cameron to run the economy has dropped by a point since November to 29 per cent.

ComRes interviewed 2,010 adults online.