If British people had to choose, an immigration cut would be favoured over a tax cut by 57-31%

The front page of The Times featured an article by the Prime Minister making a moral argument for tax cuts on Thursday, in which he made the case that when public money begins as tax revenue, it is irresponsible for the government to be reckless with it, and less of it should be taken out of wages for that end. The piece was interpreted by commentators as an effort to shift political discussion away from immigration and the EU, towards ground on which the Conservatives believe they have more evidence of success: the economy.

A new YouGov survey looks at which one of these areas – immigration or tax, if they were mutually distinct offerings – might attract the greater attention of voters, at a time when UKIP have the clear upper hand on immigration.

For voters of three of the four major parties, with the Liberal Democrats being the only exception, there is a tendency to favour an immigration cut over a cut in the amount of tax they pay. Labour voters have the narrowest leaning, still favouring an immigration cut by 48-39% however.

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Moral priorities

Cutting taxes and spending them on public services are not as obviously opposing priorities in the UK as they are in other countries, the US being the most obvious example. When the moral case for tax cuts is made by opposing spending profligacy, however, there is a suggestion that keeping money in people’s pockets has the moral high ground over spending it on services.

But the poll also finds that, in moral terms, British people see their duty to contribute to public services as trumping their right to keep what they earn: 63% see their contribution as a stronger argument, 28% their right to earnings.

It is thought that David Cameron is planning to make a speech on immigration in the next month or two, aiming to stretch EU rules “to their limits” rather than breaking them, so the measures are more likely to be supported by Angela Merkel. The planned curbs are believed to include a ban on EU migrants unless they have a job, and deportations after three months if they could not support themselves.

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