Falling public support for cuts
Yesterday's YouGov poll also had the fortnightly tracker of people's attitudes towards the cuts. It's the first time they'd been asked since the VAT rise came into effect, and show a significant drop in public support.
Asked if the government's cuts will be good or bad for the economy only 38% now think they will be good, compared to 47% who think they will be bad. In comparison between October and December last year it was roughly even between people thinking the cuts would be good and those thinking they would be bad.
On whether the cuts are being done fairly or unfairly, 57% now think the cuts are being done unfairly, again the highest we've shown so fair. Finally 72% of people now think the cuts are having an impact on their own lives, up sharply from 62% in December.
Note that 52% of people still think the cuts are necessary, 35% unnecessary. So while people increasingly don't like the cuts and think they are unfair... a slight majority think they are necessary.
UPDATE: On unconnected matters, MP Eric Illsley has pleaded guilty to false accounting. If he gets a sentence of over 12 months (or chooses to fall on his sword) he will be disqualified from the Commons and we'll have a new by-election in Barnsley Central (we should also have a by-election in Belfast West at some point once Gerry Adams resign to contest the Irish general election).
