John Healey's Budget is seen as fair by 45% of people and not fair by 20%, according to YouGov polling for the Times. YouGov says that makes it the most positively received budget since March 2021.
Most people still expect little change. Some 56% say the Budget will make no real difference to their family, and 49% say it will make none to the country. The Spectator, citing the same poll, reports that 15% think it will leave them better off and one in five worse off.
The share who think the government is managing the economy well has risen from 15% to 31% since last November, though 55% still say it is managing badly. Some 74% think the economy is in a bad state.
Views divide by past vote. The Budget is called fair by 66% of Labour voters, 59% of Lib Dems and 54% of Greens. 2024 Conservative voters are evenly split, with 29% saying fair and 30% not fair, while Reform voters say not fair by 41% to 24%.
The public is also split on cost, with 31% saying the changes are affordable for the country and 32% saying they are not. YouGov finds the tax on property or savings interest income is the one headline measure not seen as the right thing to do.