A new opinion poll has delivered a stark verdict on last week's Budget, revealing that a majority of voters blame the Labour government for a sweeping series of tax increases and doubt its ability to manage the economy.
Voters Reject Government's Tax Defence
The exclusive City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll, conducted between 28 and 30 November 2025, found that 58 per cent of those surveyed believe the decision to raise taxes by an additional £26bn demonstrates the government's failure to properly steward the UK's public finances. This sentiment persists despite senior Labour figures, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, arguing that international trade disruptions and a productivity downgrade by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) tied to the previous administration have constrained their options.
Only around a third of respondents (35 per cent) agreed that raising taxes was a "necessary" step to address long-term issues and safeguard public services. The nationally representative survey of 1,558 eligible UK voters highlights a significant challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently pledged to push ahead with a "productivity revolution" to boost growth.
Labour Bears the Brunt of Public Blame
The research indicates that the government's attempts to shift responsibility have largely fallen on deaf ears. 44 per cent of poll participants held the Labour administration directly responsible for the tax rises announced in the Budget. A slightly smaller proportion, 41 per cent, cited rising government debt-interest payments as the primary force behind the hikes.
In a blow to Labour's narrative, just a quarter of respondents believed the previous Conservative government was to blame. Furthermore, the electorate's outlook is overwhelmingly gloomy, with 56 per cent predicting the UK economy will worsen over the next twelve months, and 44 per cent expecting their own household finances to deteriorate.
A Mountain to Climb on Economic Credibility
These findings suggest Prime Minister Starmer faces an uphill struggle to convince the public of his government's economic competence. Despite his assertion that austerity under the Conservatives hampered growth and his promises of increased capital expenditure and deregulation, public confidence appears low.
Starmer had stated, "I am proud our public finances and services are moving in the right direction," and championed Budget measures designed to attract entrepreneurs. However, the poll data, which has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, reveals a stark disconnect between this optimism and voter perception, casting a shadow over Labour's flagship mission to grow the economy.
