A recent survey indicates that a majority of voters support increasing taxes on gambling companies’ profits to combat child poverty. The poll, conducted by Survation for the campaign group 38 Degrees, reveals that 64% of respondents back the proposal advocated by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Only 14% of the 8,000 individuals surveyed expressed opposition to the idea of imposing a higher levy on gambling firms to help alleviate the number of children living in poverty.
Gordon Brown, who served as Chancellor from 1997 to 2007, suggested that targeting the “significantly undertaxed profits” of gambling corporations could yield £3.2 billion. He proposed utilizing this revenue to eliminate the two-child benefit policy introduced during the Tory era, a measure criticized for perpetuating child poverty for many youngsters.
Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees, emphasized the public’s desire for large gambling companies to contribute their fair share of profits. McGregor urged for action to ensure these companies fulfill their financial obligations. He highlighted that overturning the Conservative government’s two-child benefit cap using the generated funds should be an obvious decision for a Labour administration committed to addressing child poverty. McGregor emphasized the urgency and effectiveness of this approach in lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty to provide them with a better start in life.
Joseph Howes, CEO of Buttle UK and Chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition, underscored the detrimental impact of the two-child limit policy, which pushes 109 children into poverty daily. Howes stressed that the government’s child poverty strategy hinges on rectifying this policy failure to effectively combat child poverty and ensure better living conditions for vulnerable children.
Rachel Reeves, slated to present the government’s Budget on November 26, signaled openness to considering a tax increase on gambling following Gordon Brown’s proposal. Reeves acknowledged ongoing reviews of gambling taxes and pledged to outline related policies in the upcoming Budget announcement later this year.
