Lib Dem voters supportive of Budget – but with doubts over VAT & corp tax

Green Politics

Two polls of grassroots Conservative and Liberal Democrat members over the weekend have revealed Lib Dem dissatisfaction over VAT and corporation tax and that Chris Huhne is the least popular member of the Cabinet among Tory activists.

Two polls of grassroots Conservative and Liberal Democrat members over the weekend have revealed Lib Dem dissatisfaction over VAT and corporation tax and that Chris Huhne is the least popular member of the Cabinet among Tory activists.

A Liberal Democrat Voice poll of party members, published this morning, shows minority support for increasing VAT to 20 per cent (48% support) and cutting corporation tax over the course of the parliament to 24 per cent (47% support) – though overall Lib Dem members are supportive of the Budget.

The most popular policies are the increase in the personal income tax allowance to £7,475 (98% support); the increase in capital gains tax to 28 per cent for higher rate taxpayers (92% support); reducing tax credits for families earning more than £40,000 (91%); restoring the earnings link to pensions (90%); and the new bank levy (90%).

Among the comments from Lib Dem respondents were:

“There is only one thing worse than being in coalition with the Tories and that is appearing split while being in coalition with the Tories.”

“VAT increases disproportionately hurt the poor. The focus should be on stopping tax avoidance by the rich.” and

“I earn less than 10,000. I value the raising of the income tax threshold, but feel that the advantage of this is wiped out by the increase in VAT.”

A poll of Cabinet ministers’ popularity among Conservative Party members, meanwhile, reveals work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith to be the most popular member of the Cabinet with a satisfaction rating of 87 per cent and energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne to be the least popular, with a rating of -7 per cent – the only Cabinet minister with a negative rating.

As well as Mr Duncan Smith, foreign secretary William Hague (85%), schools secretary Michael Gove (85%) and Chancellor George Osborne (75%) have higher satisfaction ratings than the prime minister (70%); the highest ranking Liberal Democrat member of the Cabinet is the deputy prime minister, with a satisfaction rating of 45 per cent – greater than nine Tory Cabinet ministers.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude is the least popular Tory Cabinet minister (26%), with international development secretary Andrew Mitchell (29%), Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin (29 per cent) and Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan (30%) also less popular than Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, whose satisfaction rating is 34 per cent.

Update 5.45

A commenter has just tweeted:

“if you notice the Lib dem survey on the budget does not ask if they support cuts in housing benefit and DLA”

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9 Responses to “Lib Dem voters supportive of Budget – but with doubts over VAT & corp tax”

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  4. John Belford

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  5. Lib Dem voters supportive of Budget – but with doubts over VAT & corp tax « The best Labour blogs

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