What you said about the 50p top rate of tax – survey results

The survey, launched following the announcement from the shadow chancellor, asked people what they thought of Labour pledge.

Watch Ed Balls talk trust, tax and the Tories on Channel 4 News.

612 out of 948 respondents said that it was “only fair that the richest contribute the most”.

An opposing view, that the 50p top rate of tax will “punish achievement and discourage business”, was agreed with by 24 per cent of respondents.

Additionally, 4 per cent of people answered that the top rate of tax should be higher, and 7 per cent of people said they did not trust Mr Balls to keep the pledge.

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Channel 4 News also ran a rival Facebook survey to ask social media users if they backed Mr Ball’s announcement.

Again, the majority of people, 60 per cent out of 100 respondents, answered “yes”.

Additionally 13 per cent said “it’s a start”, 11 per cent answered “no”. The answers “I don’t care” and “I ain’t bovvered” polled six per cent of votes together.

Eight per cent of people answered that Mr Balls was not going far enough, with two per cent voting that the top rate should be 90 per cent, and six per cent saying it should be 75 per cent.

Another 2 per cent said they “don’t believe a word a politician says”.

Take the Channel 4 News survey for yourself, and see the results, here.