Over 40% of UK Residents Support Ending Austerity Policies - Poll

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The share of those opposed to cutting welfare benefits has risen nine percentage points since last year to 46 percent, while the share of austerity supporters fell 15 percentage points to 33 percent since June 2015, the results of the poll conducted by the Sky News broadcaster showed.

At the same time, 43 percent supported increased government spending, while 24 percent said they oppose it.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May's support continues to fair well despite continuing her predecessor David Cameron's austerity policies, with 57 percent of respondents being satisfied with her performance and 32 percent showing dissatisfaction.

​The same poll found that the public was optimistic over the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union in the long run, with less than 40 percent considering long-term economic damage from Brexit likely and 53 percent saying the opposite.

The poll was conducted on November 3-6, interviewing a weighed sample of over 2,000 channel subscribers by email.

The survey comes ahead of the UK government's autumn statement, due later on Wednesday, in which the Treasury will outline its plans for the economy and spending. The statement will be Chancellor Philip Hammond's first pre-budget report since he took over from George Osborne following the Brexit referendum.