A new poll has revealed public opposition to plans for public sector pay differentiation, believing them to be both unfair and harmful to regional economies.

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A new poll today reveals public opposition to the government’s plans for public sector pay differentiation, believing them to be both unfair and harmful to regional economies.

As Chart 1 shows, 56 per cent of those polled think proposals to freeze the pay of public sector workers outside London and the South East are unfair, against just 26% thinking them fair, with 15% don’t knows – while 45% say plans to cut real terms public sector wages will harm regional economies outside London and the South East, with only 17% saying they will help, 22% saying neither and 17% unsure.

Chart 1:



The poll (pdf) by Survation for Progressive Polling also found:

• Women were most opposed to the regional pay freeze with only 23% seeing it was fair compared to 33% of men; • While opposition was strongest among Labour and Lib Dem voters, only 1 in 2 people (50%) who voted Conservative at the last general election thought it fair; • Only 39% of Conservatives, 17% of Lib Dems and 8% of current Labour voters believe the policy to cut real terms public sector wages will help boost job growth in the regions.

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One week on from the budget the poll findings show there is little enthusiasm for public sector pay differentiation even amongst Conservatives – never mind the voters the Tories need to win to secure a majority. In the week the OECD forecast a double dip for the UK, we need all regional economies to grow, we need policies that will help not harm the recovery.

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