Voters have branded Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement “bloody disgusting and completely unfair” and “bad for most people”, a snapshot of public responses to the fiscal plans has shown.
Conducted immediately after Reeves’s statement in the Commons, the panel of Labour voters questioned about the plans revealed a deep frustration about the policies announced on Wednesday and anger over the failure of the Government to place more of the burden on the super-rich.
The Chancellor was forced to announce a fresh squeeze on day-to-day Government spending totalling £14bn, the majority of which came from cuts to the welfare bill and a reduction in expenditure for unprotected departments.
A rapid response focus group commissioned by campaigners 38 Degrees and carried out by pollsters JL Partners in the wake of Reeves’s announcements showed significant scepticism about her decisions.
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Asked if the panel felt the Spring Statement addressed the biggest financial challenges currently facing their household, a female 54-year-old planning on voting Liberal Democrat responded: “No, not at all, I am disabled and my benefits will be cut and I do not know how I will cope.”
A male “homemaker”, 62, who will vote Tory, said he believed the statement would “make things worse” while a 21-year-old Labour voter added: “It doesn’t address the current financial challenges because the cost of living is way too high.”
Asked for their thoughts on the Government’s plans to cut sickness and disability benefits and the health element of Universal Credit, a 46-year-old woman now voting for Reform UK described it: “Absolutely the wrong decision, bloody disgusting and completely unfair.”
A 29-year-old Labour-backing manager said he thought it was “the wrong decision”, adding: “I think it is bad for most people.”
Another Labour supporter, a nurse aged 60, believed welfare was in need of an overhaul, but said: “It feels like they target the worst off.”
When questioned as to why the Government did not increase taxes on the super-rich, the panel showed particular anger, with one 28-year-old voting Labour, who is currently out of work, stating: “I think it is selfish they are cutting PIP to make those already struggling even worse off.”
Rachel Reeves at a press conference after the Spring Statement (Photo: Ben Stansall/PA)One 52-year-old former Labour voter, who is now planning to vote Green and is currently out of work, went further: “I can’t believe that this is a Labour government! It’s absolutely disgusting I am gutted that I wasted my vote on these people.”
When asked for their views on Sir Keir Starmer, Reeves and the current Government based on the announcements in the statement, a 66-year-old laundrette attendant, who supports Labour said: “I’m saddened that so many people are going to be worse off, when this is supposed to be the government of the working people. I know they walked into a mess left by the Tories, but this is austerity all over again.”
A 70-year-old kitchen assistant thinking of voting Lib Dem, said: “I am very disappointed in this government – they were elected because many people wanted rid of the Tories. We won’t make that mistake again.”
It was echoed by a 32-year-old now supporting the Conservatives, who described his job as a director of IT, said: “My view is that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are out of touch with the public’s concerns, and the Government’s decision to cut welfare benefits will only worsen the cost of living.”
Tom Lubbock, Co-Founder at J.L. Partners said the majority of Labour voters in the 102-person panel were “sceptical that the spring statement will have any real impact on their financial challenges”.
“There were a lot of people who said that the Spring Statement will have no impact on them, but crucially there was no constituency saying that any of the developments were positive long term changes,” Lubbock said, before adding: “Politicians need to realise that the cost of living is still the number one concern for people listening to statements like the Spring Statement.
“Numerous responses highlighted worries about rising prices for essentials—such as food, energy, housing, and everyday services—and the overall impact of inflation on household budgets.”
Matthew McGregor, CEO at 38 Degrees, said the results show “voters feel let down by the choices the Government has made in today’s spring statement, and are starting to lose faith”.
“The message from the public is clear: it’s time for the Government to keep their word and ensure those with the broadest should bear the greatest burden, rather than those least able to carry the load,” McGregor added.
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