Northern people feel most affected by austerity

Sir Howard Bernstein, with Deloitte managing partner Richard Bell

Nearly half of people in the North of England are feeling the effects of the government spending cuts, according to a survey commissioned by Deloitte.

Conducted by Ipsos MORI, the business advisory firm’s The State of the State 2017-18 survey revealed that 41% of adults in the North thought that austerity was having an impact on their daily lives – well above the UK average of 33 per cent.

The region scored the highest across the UK, followed by London (38%), Wales (35 per cent) and the Midlands (34%). In comparison, just over one in five people in Scotland suggested that they had been affected.

The UK average of 33% is a rise on last year’s survey, which saw 27% affected. Of the 1,071 adults surveyed, 80% said that the NHS should be protected from spending cuts, while 49% chose education and 32% the police.

In addition, 63% suggested that government spending should increase, even if that meant increases in taxes. In contrast, only 10 per cent said that taxes should be cut, even if that meant reductions in services.