THE majority of people in Scotland believe public services should be extended – even if that means an increase in tax.
Three-quarters of Scots (73%) believe there should be more government services regardless of whether it leads to a tax hike, research from professional services firm Deloitte suggests. This is a larger proportion of the population than in Wales (70%), England (69%) and Northern Ireland (61%).
Deloitte’s The State of the State 2018-19 report found four-fifths of Scots (85%) are concerned about the future provision of public services – 15% more than the UK average.
With the UK Budget due on October 29 and the Scottish Government budget to follow on December 12, the report follows the recent announcement by Prime Minster Theresa May that austerity is “over”.
More than a quarter of Scots (27%) said they had felt the impact of austerity compared with 31% of people UK-wide. In 2010, more than half the UK population felt a reduction in public spending was necessary. The survey also reveals most people across the UK believe people should be penalised for wasting public sector time, such as wrongly calling emergency services or failing to turn up for a GP appointment.
The data was compiled by Ipsos Mori, which surveyed 1463 adults across the UK and 123 people in Scotland. The report was produced with the think tank Reform.
More Scots (49%) believe the state has tried to do too much and individuals should take greater responsibility for their lives than those in England (41%), Wales (45%) and Northern Ireland (34%).
Angela Mitchell of Deloitte said: “Following Theresa May’s recent announcement that austerity is over and with both the UK Government and Scottish Government due to present their budgets, this survey shows the majority of people in Scotland would accept tax rises if it led to increased spending on public services.
“Whilst this is consistent with public sentiment across the UK, the data reveals a slightly different ethos in Scotland where support for increased spending and citizens taking greater responsibility for their own lives is higher than anywhere else and concerns about the future provision of public services is also greater than in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"This distinction in public sentiment can in part be attributed to further devolution powers in borrowing, tax and welfare which have created a public sector landscape in Scotland which is different from the rest of the UK.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel