News
More than 80% of Brits think the Government is badly handling the cost of living crisis
We're surprised it's not more tbh.
Emily Sergeant -
9th April 2025 
More than 80% of Brits think the Government is badly handling the cost of living crisis, a new survey has revealed.
It’s no surprise that the rising cost of living crisis has been one of the defining political issues of the 2020s, not just here in the UK, but right across the world, and according to the shocking findings from a new YouGov survey as we enter the second half of the decade, these financial problems show no sign of disappearing.
56% of Brits, which is a clear majority, say they have been affected by cost of living pressures in recent times, with four in 10 (40%) of those, in particular, saying they have not just had to make cuts to their usual spending, but expect to have to do so again in the future.
Even though a fifth of Brits (21%) say they have been able to maintain their usual levels of spending soon, they sadly anticipate having to make some cuts soon.
Net approval of the government's managing of the cost of living has fallen to -69, lower than the -59 when the Conservatives left office last July
— YouGov (@YouGov) March 31, 2025
Well: 12% (-6 vs 28 Jun-1 Jul 2024)
Badly: 81% (+4)
Net: -69 (-10) pic.twitter.com/iXG8D3xnzb
To really hit home just how much the country’s been affected, the new survey found that just one in five Brits (19%) say they have been able to maintain their usual levels of spending, and expect to be able to continue to do so.
The survey also uncovered who was finding the cost of living crisis so hard to manage, with six in 10 women (60%) saying they have already had to make cuts, compared to just 51% of men, and why they are feeling the affects – with inflation rising faster than wages, on average, being the most common reason.
And when it comes to the Government’s input, responses were far from favourable.
56% of Britons say they've had to make cuts due to cost of living pressures, with 61% expecting to have to make cuts soon
— YouGov (@YouGov) March 31, 2025
Had to make cuts, expect to make more: 40%
Had to make cuts, but don't expect more: 16%
Not made cuts so far, but expect to: 21%
Not made cuts so far and… pic.twitter.com/7V3D011P1G
As mentioned, currently eight in 10 Brits (81%) say the Government is managing the cost of living badly, which is up from an already-high 74% last November, and is also the highest number since back in August 2023.
Just one in eight (12%) believe the Government has handled the matter well, from 15% in November.
Read more:
- New survey finds Keir Starmer is now as ‘unpopular’ among Brits as Nigel Farage
- The cost of living crisis is apparently making people have fewer Sunday roasts
- Government begins giving millions of UK workers ‘significant’ pay rises this month
Even among Labour voters themselves, YouGov found that there was ‘little feeling’ the Government is doing a good job, as only 22% believed it’s been positively handled, compared to two-thirds (67%) who see them as having done badly on the matter.
Featured Image – Jessica Taylor / No 10 Downing Street (via Wikimedia Commons)
