London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026

UK Voters Divided on Tax Pledges and National Service

A recent YouGov poll reveals that UK voters are split on Labour and Conservative pledges not to raise the three main taxes, and mostly oppose the Conservative plan for national service. Fifty-two percent of people reject the idea of a year of military service or monthly volunteering for 18-year-olds, while 39% support it. Both Labour and Conservative commitments to not raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT are supported by 46% of respondents, with 30% opposed.
A recent YouGov poll reveals that UK voters are split on Labour and Conservative pledges not to raise the three main taxes, and mostly oppose the Conservative plan for national service.

The survey shows 52% of people reject the idea of a year of military service or monthly volunteering for 18-year-olds, while 39% support it.

Meanwhile, the Tory proposal to discontinue university degrees with poor outcomes is supported by only 49% of voters.

The Conservative pension pledge to exempt a higher amount of pension income from taxes has 73% backing.

Labour’s policy of imposing VAT on private school fees is supported by 61%, and its plan for a publicly owned renewable energy provider is backed by 74%.

However, Keir Starmer’s idea to lower the voting age to 16 is unpopular, with 59% opposed.

Both Labour and Conservative commitments to not raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT are supported by 46% of respondents, with 30% opposed.

Liberal Democrat policies, such as awarding blue flag status to rivers and reducing sewage discharge, earned 87% approval, and free school meals for primary school pupils received 74% support.

The survey included responses from over 2,000 adults.

Recent Conservative strategies, like the national service announcement, aimed to attract Reform UK supporters but have not significantly shifted Reform's voter base.

The Conservatives are trailing Labour by about 20 points nationally, with party leader Rishi Sunak’s campaign struggling.

Both parties are set to release their manifestos, with possible surprises from the Conservatives as they attempt to regain momentum.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Police Tighten Public-Order Measures After Anti-Immigration Protests in Dover and Portsmouth
UK Ministers Pressed for Answers After US Diplomat Accused of Child Abuse Images Leaves Britain
Jaguar Land Rover Pursues NATO Defense Contracts for Defender Vehicles
British Service Member Dies in Road Accident While Deployed in Ukraine
George Osborne Calls for Britain to Rejoin EU Customs Union
Anthropic Chief Dario Amodei Urges Faster UK Action on Advanced AI Risks
UK State Pension Set for 3.9% Rise Under Triple Lock
UK Labour Market Cools as Payrolled Employment Continues to Decline
Reform UK’s £72 Million in Donations Faces Scrutiny Under Proposed Retrospective Funding Rules
UK Doctors Warn Expanded Pharmacy First Scheme Could Put Patients at Risk
British Airlines Cut Short-Haul Capacity as Jet Fuel Costs Rise
UK News Publishers Forecast 40% Search Traffic Drop as AI Overviews Expand
Axel Springer Wins Approval for £575 Million Daily Telegraph Acquisition
London Mayor Sadiq Khan Opposes Heathrow Third Runway Over Climate Targets
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Leaders Hold Summit Seeking Greater Autonomy
UK Energy Price Cap Set to Rise to £1,723 in October
UK Treasury Warns Middle East Conflict Is Threatening Economic Growth
Labour Moves to Retrospectively Cap Overseas Political Donations After Reform UK Funding Surge
HMRC Warns Nearly Seven Million Adults Are Unclear About State Pension Entitlements
UK Parliament Passes Sovereign Grant Reform Before Conference Recess
British Rail Passengers Gain Automatic Right to Switch Operators During Disruptions
Burnham Hosts Downing Street Business Summit as UK Fiscal Pressure Builds
Labour Government Moves to Challenge £72 Million in Reform UK Crypto Donations
UK Advertising Industry Warns Wider Junk Food Rules Could Put £1 Billion in Media Spending at Risk
Cornwall Opens Devolution Talks With UK Government Over Transport and Local Services
UK Parliament Considers Sovereign Grant Reform Setting Royal Funding at £99.9 Million
Trades Union Congress Calls for Income-Based Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Bank Levy
UK Prime Minister Rejects Second Scottish Independence Referendum
House of Lords Begins Scrutiny of Bill to Lower UK Voting Age to 16
Anthropic Says Claude Was Exploited in Weapons-Related and State-Linked Cyber Activity
Institute of Directors Urges UK Government to Avoid Business Tax Increases in Autumn Budget
Rising Gilt Yields Cut UK Fiscal Headroom to About £13 Billion Ahead of Budget
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Services and Technology Activity Strengthen
UK Government Promises Clearer Student Loan Guidance After Repayment Backlash
Charities Warn Unpaid Carers May Die Before Receiving Government Compensation
Dover Unrest Prompts Review of UK Counter-Extremism Strategy
Celtic Summit Leaders Reassert Right to Pursue Independence From UK
NHS Records Busiest Summer on Record Amid Severe Heatwaves
Harrods Faces Potential £150 Million Compensation Bill Over Al Fayed Abuse Claims
UK Parliament Opens Debate on Landmark Assisted Dying Legislation
Metropolitan Police Investigate Reform UK Over Alleged Foreign Electoral Donations
UK Economy Expands 0.4% in July as AI Investment Boosts Activity
Bank of England Signals Caution on Rates as Inflation Pressures Persist
Tesco Alerts Police After Scammers Use Its Branding in AI-Generated Fraud
Lindy Cameron Appointed First Female Permanent Under-Secretary at UK Foreign Office
UK Government to Rewrite Student Loan Guidance After Mis-Selling Criticism
Welsh First Minister Warns Andy Burnham Government to Respect Devolution
Trump’s Falkland Islands Remarks Trigger New Diplomatic Tension With Britain
Reform UK Receives Record £72 Million Donation From Cryptocurrency Billionaires
UK Bans Imports From Israeli West Bank Settlements and Sanctions Supporting Institutions
×