First budget polling
The first snapshot budget poll - done on Wednesday afternoon and evening by Populus - is up on the Times website. Only 596 respondents and no voting intention, but it is our first straw in the wind and it's a mixed picture for the government.
The 'showroom tax' on the most polluting new cars was indeed popular - 68% backed it - but more surprisingly there was also support for the increase in tax on alcohol; 55% backed the rise in alcohol duties. Respondents overwhelmingly (71% to 24%) supported higher child benefit and winter fuel allowances.
Despite positive reactions to the two main tax rises, overall opinion on the budget seems to be negative. 38% think they'll pay more tax, with only 4% thinking they'll gain. 42% of people think they'll be worse off from the budget. 26% think it will be bad for business, with only 9% thinking it will help. 23% think it will increase the threat of recession, only 6% think it help reduce one.
So - the things the government did in the budget are popular...but people think they'll lose out and it won't improve things for the economy or for business. It isn't clear from that whether this budget will improve or damage the government's popularity or make no difference at all - there will no doubt be plenty more polling on the budget in the next few days which will give us a better idea.
