RSA Labour Party Conference Fringe Event Public Services in a cold - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
RSA Labour Party Conference Fringe Event Public Services in a cold climate: what should be the priorities? Robert Chote Lord Mandelson Ben Page Paula Sussex Matthew Taylor Rachel Sylvester, Chair Sponsored by In partnership with Saving
RSA Labour Party Conference Fringe Event Public Services in a cold climate: what should be the priorities?
Robert Chote Lord Mandelson Ben Page Paula Sussex Matthew Taylor Rachel Sylvester, Chair
Sponsored by In partnership with
Saving public spending: are we facing up to hard choices?
Ben Page Chief Executive Ipsos MORI
54 32 30 25 17 16 12 10 9 7
The economy is seen as the number one issue facing the country
Base: 978 British adults 18+, 13th – 18th Aug 2009
What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? What do you see as other important issues facing Britain today?
Unemployment Economy Crime/law and order Inflation/prices Education/Schools Top mentions % NHS Race relations/immigration Defence/Foreign Affairs/ Terrorism
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Drug Abuse Morality/individual behaviour
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
% saying Unemployment as issue facing Britain
500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Unemployment (thousands)
Unemployment as issue Unemployment (thousands)
Concern about unemployment is rising – in line with actual unemployment figures
Year
Source – Ipsos MORI Issues Index and ONS Labour force survey
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 J a n
F e b
M a r
A p r
M a y
J u n
J u l
A u g
S e p
O c t
N
D e c
J a n
F e b
M a r
A p r
M a y
J u n
J u l
A u g
% Think the economy will improve in next 12 months
Economy improve
Year
Source: Ipsos MORI Base: c.1,000 British adults each month
Economic optimism is recovering from a 30 year low….
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 J a n
F e b
M a r
A p r
M a y
J u n
J u l
A u g
S e p
O c t
N
D e c
J a n
F e b
M a r
A p r
M a y
J u n
J u l
A u g
% Think the economy will improve in next 12 months 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 % Labour share of vote
Economy improve Labour share
Year
Source: Ipsos MORI Base: c.1,000 British adults each month
…but Labour isn’t benefiting
21 36 48 35
Despite years of spending increases……
% Disagree % Agree
We demand a great deal from public services but are not prepared to pay enough taxes to fund them Too much money is spent on public services
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about public services in Britain?
75 24 9 50
Public believes in efficiency savings – not cuts to frontline services
To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about public services in Britain?
There is a real need to cut spending on public services in
national debt we now have Making public services more efficient can save enough money to help cut government spending, without damaging services the public receive
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
% Disagree % Agree
36% 38% 27%
Public split on hard choices: cut services or raise taxes?
Spending on public services should be maintained, even if it means increasing the income tax I pay Government borrowing should be reduced, even if it means spending on key public services is cut Don’t know
Government borrowing is now at record levels, and will need to be reduced in future. Which of these statements comes closest to your own view?
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
36 53 22 34 38 33 55 44
All Cons Lab LibDem
Different views by party support
Government borrowing is now at record levels, and will need to be reduced in future. Which of these statements comes closest to your own view?
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
% Spending on public services should be maintained, even if it means increasing the income tax I pay % Government borrowing should be reduced, even if it means spending on key public services is cut
25 24 12 8 5 11 3 6 25 10 21 26 3 2 Tax on business Inheritance tax Income tax VAT Fuel duty Council tax None
% Most % Least
If you have to tax, don’t tax me!
In order to bring the nation’s debts under control, many experts think it is highly likely that the level of taxation will increase in future. If taxes were to rise, which of these, if any, would you be most/least in favour of being increased?
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
53 7 6 5 17 7 12 35 16 19 7 3
Lifestyle changes before charges in the NHS
Longer waiting lists Charges for visiting your GP Some types of treatment not available in your area, depending on where you live Fees for hospital stays Requiring patients to change lifestyle before they are allowed treatment (e.g. give up smoking, change diet) % Most % Least
If the NHS was to face lower levels of spending, which of these, if any, would you be most/least willing to accept?
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
None of these
25 25 11 9 19 15 21 21 24 9
Don’t like larger class sizes
Higher university fees Larger class sizes in primary schools Larger class sizes in secondary schools Fewer free pre-school places % Most % Least
If education services were to face lower levels of spending, which of these, if any, would you be most/least willing to accept?
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
None of these
38 18 13 13 6 15 6 16 7 45 1 2 4
More police, less prison education….
More fines (eg speeding tickets, parking fines) Fewer rehabilitation programmes for drugs & alcohol users Fewer prison sentences and more community sentences Fewer education programmes in prisons % Most % Least
If the Criminal Justice System was to face lower levels of spending, which of these, if any, would you be most/least willing to accept?
Base: 1,041 online British adults aged 16-64, 4-7 Sept 2009
None of these Less monitoring of people on probation Fewer police
In summary
the best way to deal with it
messages have to be communicated to the public?
them?
www.ipsos-mori.com