Nearly two in three think that the quality of public services have got worse over the last five years, according to a new study from Ipsos MORI. Meanwhile, pessimism for the future of the NHS, policing and education are at record levels. Three in five (63%) think that public services have got worse over the last five years, compared with 43% who said the same in 2015 and 40% in 2012. In addition, the majority of the public (62%) disagree that in the long term, the government’s policies will improve the state of Britain’s public services.

1. Political Monitor Austerity | March 2016 | FINAL | Public |
© 2017 Ipsos. All rights reserved. Contains Ipsos' Confidential and Proprietary information
and may not be disclosed or reproduced without the prior written consent of Ipsos.
1
March 2017
Public services
and austerity

2. 2Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
ON BALANCE DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
IN THE LONG TERM, THIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES WILL IMPROVE THE STATE OF BRITAIN'S PUBLIC
SERVICES
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Only three in ten think government has the right long-
35
33
37
27
31
59
60
56
67
62
Oct-13
Mar-15
Aug-15
Nov-15
Mar-17
AGREE DISAGREE
policies for Britain’s public services

3. 3Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
ON BALANCE DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
IN THE LONG TERM, THIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES WILL IMPROVE THE STATE OF BRITAIN'S PUBLIC
SERVICES
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: c 1,000 British adults 18+ each month
Confidence in government’s policies for public services
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Jun-01
Oct-01
Nov-01
Mar-02
May-02
Sep-02
Dec-02
Mar-03
Jun-03
Jul-03
Sep-03
Dec-03
Mar-04
Jun-04
Sep-04
Nov-04
Feb-05
May-05
Sep-05
Nov-05
Mar-06
May-06
Sep-06
Nov-06
Mar-07
May-07
Sep-07
Nov-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
Jun-09
Nov-09
Jul-10
Oct-10
Jan-11
Oct-13
Mar-15
Aug-15
Nov-15
Mar-17
AGREE DISAGREE
still historically low
62%
31%

4. 4Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
NOW THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICES OVERALL, DO YOU THINK THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC
SERVICES HAS GOT BETTER OR WORSE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OR HAS IT STAYED THE SAME? IS
THAT MUCH OR A LITTLE BETTER/WORSE?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political Monitor/Sep 2013 BBCBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Expectations of public services
3
4
2
12
12
7
42
39
25
20
23
26
20
20
37
3
3
4
Sep-13
Sep-15
Mar-17
GOT MUCH BETTER GOT A LITTLE BETTER STAYED THE SAME GOT A LITTLE WORSE GOT MUCH WORSE DON’T KNOW
9%
16%
15%
43%
63%
40%

5. 5Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
33
34
38
40
43
47
62
31
19
23
24
10
27
15
Skills in Britain's workforce
Public transport
The quality of the environment
The quality of education
The way your area is policed
Opportunities for young people
The NHS
THINKING ABOUT ... OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU EXPECT IT TO GET BETTER, GET WORSE,
OR STAY THE SAME?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political Monitor/Sep 2013 BBCBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Pessimism highest for the future of the NHS, young people,
policing and education
BETTER WORSE

6. 6Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
3%
7%
44%
33%
10%
4%
THINKING ABOUT THE WAY YOUR AREA IS POLICED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU EXPECT
IT TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Expectations for policing continue to get more pessimistic
March 2017
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
10%
43%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Mar-02
Sep-02
Mar-03
Sep-03
Mar-04
Sep-04
Mar-05
Sep-05
Mar-06
Sep-06
Mar-07
Sep-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Sep-11
Mar-12
Sep-12
Mar-13
Sep-13
Mar-14
Sep-14
Mar-15
Sep-15
Mar-16
Sep-16
Mar-17
Better
Worse
43%
10%

7. 7Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
3%
21%
32%
29%
11%
4%
THINKING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU EXPECT IT
TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Pessimism over quality of education also at lowest ever levels
March 2017
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
24%
40%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Jul-02
Mar-03
Nov-03
Jul-04
Mar-05
Nov-05
Jul-06
Mar-07
Nov-07
Jul-08
Mar-09
Nov-09
Jul-10
Mar-11
Nov-11
Jul-12
Mar-13
Nov-13
Jul-14
Mar-15
Nov-15
Jul-16
Mar-17
Better
Worse
40%
24%

8. 8Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
3%
12%
20%
38%
24%
3%
THINKING ABOUT THE NHS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU EXPECT IT TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Record pessimism for future of NHS gets even worse
March 2017
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
15%
62%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Jul-02
Mar-03
Nov-03
Jul-04
Mar-05
Nov-05
Jul-06
Mar-07
Nov-07
Jul-08
Mar-09
Nov-09
Jul-10
Mar-11
Nov-11
Jul-12
Mar-13
Nov-13
Jul-14
Mar-15
Nov-15
Jul-16
Mar-17
Better
Worse
62%
15%

9. 9Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
3%
24%
22%
32%
15%
3%
THINKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU
EXPECT IT TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Nearly half think opportunities for young people will get worse
March 2017
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
27%
47%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Sep-07
May-08
Jan-09
Sep-09
May-10
Jan-11
Sep-11
May-12
Jan-13
Sep-13
May-14
Jan-15
Sep-15
May-16
Jan-17
Better
Worse 47%
27%

10. 10Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
2%
21%
35%
27%
11%
4%
THINKING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU
EXPECT IT TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Only one in four think quality of the environment will get better
March 2017
23%
38%
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Mar-02
Nov-02
Jul-03
Mar-04
Nov-04
Jul-05
Mar-06
Nov-06
Jul-07
Mar-08
Nov-08
Jul-09
Mar-10
Nov-10
Jul-11
Mar-12
Nov-12
Jul-13
Mar-14
Nov-14
Jul-15
Mar-16
Nov-16
Better
Worse
38%
23%

11. 11Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
2%
17%
42%
26%
8%
6%
THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU EXPECT IT TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Only one in five think public transport will improve
March 2017
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
19%
34%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Mar-02
Dec-02
Sep-03
Jun-04
Mar-05
Dec-05
Sep-06
Jun-07
Mar-08
Dec-08
Sep-09
Jun-10
Mar-11
Dec-11
Sep-12
Jun-13
Mar-14
Dec-14
Sep-15
Jun-16
Mar-17
Better
Worse 34%
19%

12. 12Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
4%
27%
32%
25%
8%
5%
THINKING ABOUT SKILLS IN BRITAIN’S WORKFORCE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DO YOU EXPECT
IT TO….?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Public remains split on prospects for skills in Britain’s workforce
March 2017
GET MUCH
BETTER
GET
BETTER
STAY THE
SAME
GET
WORSE
GET MUCH
WORSE
DON’T
KNOW
31%
33%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Sep-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Sep-11
Mar-12
Sep-12
Mar-13
Sep-13
Mar-14
Sep-14
Mar-15
Sep-15
Mar-16
Sep-16
Mar-17
Better
Worse
33%
31%

13. 13Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A NUMBER OF SPENDING CUTS TO HELP
REDUCE THE NATIONAL DEBT. TO WHAT EXTENT, IF AT ALL, HAVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BEEN
AFFECTED BY THE CUTS SO FAR?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017 (note 2012 figures from online survey of 16-75s)
One in four say they have been affected by cuts so far
8%
8%
6%
7%
25%
15%
21%
19%
49%
39%
47%
40%
10%
37%
25%
29%
Nov-12
Aug-15
Jul-16
Mar-17
A GREAT DEAL A FAIR AMOUNT NOT VERY MUCH NOT AT ALL

14. 14Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017 (note 2012 figures from online survey of 16-75s)
19%
19%
17%
42%
27%
28%
28%
30%
30%
5%
22%
20%
Nov-12
Aug-15
Mar-17
VERY CONCERNED FAIRLY CONCERNED NOT VERY CONCERNED NOT AT ALL CONCERNED
AND HOW CONCERNED, IF AT ALL, ARE YOU ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE CUTS ON YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
Almost half concerned about future impact of cuts -
similar to 2015 but not as many as in 2012

15. 15Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
AND WHAT PROPORTION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANNED CUTS TO PUBLIC SPENDING DO YOU
THINK HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT SO FAR?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017 (note 2012 figures from online survey of 16-75s)
On average, public thinks government has still not
40%
28%
37%
Nov-12
Sep-15
Mar-17
reached the halfway point of cuts to come

16. 16Political Monitor | March 2017 | Final | Public
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS?
Source: Ipsos MORI Political Monitor/Sept 2013 BBCBase: 1,032 British adults 18+, 10th – 14th March 2017
Half think cuts to welfare and benefits have gone too far, while those
31%
27%
31%
29%
22%
17%
16%
21%
20%
30%
25%
28%
16%
15%
21%
9%
17%
18%
21%
16%
14%
16%
17%
24%
Sep-13
Sep-15
Mar-17
Sep-13
Sep-15
Mar-17
STRONGLY AGREE TEND TO AGREE TEND TO DISAGREE STRONGLY DISAGREE
I think cuts to welfare and benefits have gone too far
I think reductions in social welfare have been necessary
who disagree that reductions were necessary continue to rise