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\t\tReeves has been urged to cut taxes to boost growth. \t<\/p>\n\t\t\tMonday 13 April 2026 10:15 am\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tReeves has been urged to cut taxes to boost growth. \t<\/p>\n
British voters want Rachel Reeves to cut taxes and reduce energy costs in order to focus on growth as a majority of people felt the UK economy was \u201cpoor\u201d, new research has shown.<\/p>\n
Polling by Freshwater Strategy for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a free marke<\/a>t think tank, suggested that the vast majority of Brits wanted the Labour government to focus on economic growth more than it currently does.\u00a0<\/p>\n The findings back up the Labour government\u2019s primary mission, which is to grow the UK economy<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n But respondents in a survey and focus groups suggested that voters supported small-state policies to deliver improved growth as much of the public were confused about measurements used by the government to track achievements.\u00a0<\/p>\n Polling found that 77 per cent believed energy costs should be reduced while 72 per cent backed lower taxes for workers. A slightly lower portion, 66 per cent, backed tax cuts for businesses<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n When faced with a direct choice, Britons backed economic growth even if it led to some environmental damage while most also wanted energy to be cheaper even if it meant slower progress to net zero.\u00a0<\/p>\n Taxes and energy costs top Brits\u2019 priorities<\/p>\n Respondents to the survey of 3,000 voters were also more likely to say that GDP growth<\/a> benefitted the government more than individuals.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a damning indictment, nearly two thirds of people (65 per cent) rated the UK economy as \u201cpoor\u201d but over-estimated the average wealth of Brits compared to Germans, Australians and Americans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kristian Niemietz, editorial director of the (IEA), said the lack of progress made in the last 18 years \u201cshould be the number one public policy issue of our time\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n \t\t\tUK economy set for second lowest growth in G7 \u2013 OECD<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhile political discourse in Britain may not always reflect it, Britain is clearly not a country that is comfortable with economic stagnation and relative decline,\u201d Niemietz said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe still have the social expectations associated with a growing economy. What we do not have is the economic performance to match those expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n Middle East war rattles finance chiefs<\/p>\n Low sentiment across the public reflects wider pessimism among business leaders, with one survey of 79 chief financial officers suggesting that confidence had fallen to a six-year low.\u00a0<\/p>\n