Poll Reveals Public Skepticism: Tories Seen as More Likely to Hike Taxes Than Labour, Survey Shows Ahead of Election

Poll reveals the public views Conservatives as more prone to increase taxes compared to Labour, according to Savanta's findings

This poll was conducted prior to the tax topic becoming a focal point during the initial televised debate among leaders on Tuesday evening.

Political correspondent @AmroJourno

Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 2:

According to new survey results provided to Sky News, the public perceives the Conservative Party as more inclined to increase taxes compared to the Labour Party.

The study conducted by Savanta, which was completed before taxes became a focal point in Tuesday night's initial televised debate, revealed that the majority of people are skeptical about the Conservative and Labour parties' promises to avoid tax increases.

Between May 31 and June 2, when questioned about their trust in commitments to avoid increasing key taxes like income tax, national insurance, and VAT, 41% of those surveyed responded that they did not trust either party.

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The digital poll, which included 2,217 adults from the UK who are 18 years old or older, revealed that only one out of every six people think Rishi Sunak will avoid increasing significant taxes. In contrast, one out of every four people believe Sir Keir Starmer would do the same.

In the initial televised debate, tax issues took center stage as Mr. Sunak sought to establish it as a major point of difference from Labour leader Sir Keir, leading up to the election on July 4.

During the discussion, Mr. Sunak repeatedly asserted that Labour's strategies for the nation were financially unaccounted for and would necessitate yearly tax increases amounting to £2,000 per family, a claim that Sir Keir vehemently dismissed as "complete nonsense."

The prime inister announced a need to address a £38.5 billion deficit over the next four years, a calculation he attributed to the independent analysis conducted by civil servants.

The Labour Party has criticized the cost estimations, stating they were based on projections from special advisers chosen by the prime minister, rather than being evaluated by an unbiased Civil Service.

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On Wednesday, a memo from the top bureaucrat at the Treasury surfaced, indicating that civil servants did not partake in determining the overall sum.

In a communication addressed to Darren Jones, the Labour Party's deputy finance spokesperson, James Bowler highlighted that he had cautioned ministers against claiming that cost estimates were generated by civil servants. He clarified that the £38.5 billion figure mentioned by the Conservative Party "encompasses expenses that exceed those calculated by the Civil Service."

"In the letter dated June 3, he stated that cost estimates obtained from external sources or created by different organizations should not be claimed as work conducted by the Civil Service."

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According to a Savanta survey, individuals over 55 were the most skeptical age group, doubting both major parties' promises to avoid tax increases, a crucial demographic for the Conservative party.

Chris Hopkins, who is in charge of political research at Savanta, mentioned to Sky News that Rishi Sunak has aimed to emphasize tax increases as a major point of contention in this election, especially during the initial televised debate.

The issue he faces is that despite both he and Keir Starmer committing to avoid tax increases, the populace seems more skeptical of the Conservative Party's assurances compared to those from the Labour Party.

It's evident that senior citizens are pivotal to the Conservative Party's strategy during this election, with this demographic being the most skeptical about tax promises made by any political party.

"This is unfavorable for Starmer, yet even more detrimental for Sunak, and probably reflects a broader skepticism among voters throughout this election period."

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Sky News has reached out to both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party seeking their

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