Voters in almost every constituency – from richest to poorest – back new gambling tax to tackle child poverty, new data shows

A majority of voters in 98.5% of Great Britain’s constituencies support a new gambling tax to reduce child poverty, constituency level polling data published by campaign group 38 Degrees today shows. 

In 623 out of 632 constituencies, including the constituencies with the highest and lowest levels of child poverty, voters support a proposal to increase taxes on gambling companies if the money was used to reduce child poverty. Across the country as a whole, 64% of people polled said they support the proposal, with only 14% opposing. 

The poll of 8546 voters, undertaken by Survation, forms part of 38 Degrees’ campaign for the Government to lift the two child limit at this month’s Autumn Budget, which saw the campaign group hand in a 69,810 strong petition to 10 Downing Street earlier this week. The proposal is backed by former PM Gordon Brown, whilst 101 Labour MPs have written to the Chancellor backing the move. 

Today’s brand new analysis also finds that: 

• Constituencies where the proposal is supported range from Birmingham Ladywood, which has the highest percentage of children living in poverty (58.8%) and where 51% of voters of support the proposal, to Richmond Park, the constituency with the lowest percentage of children living in poverty in the country (5.1%), where 62% of voters support the proposal. 
• Key members of the cabinet’s own constituencies would be amongst those where children could benefit the most from the government scrapping the two child limit – all of whose constituencies enjoy over 50% support for the proposal:
  • In Birmingham Ladywood, represented by the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, 58.80% of children live in relative poverty, equating to 20,535 children. 
  • Wolverhampton South East, represented by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, sees a high rate of 39.20% poverty, affecting 11,208 children. 
  • In the Chancellor’s constituency of Leeds West, 5687 children, or 28.3% live in relative poverty 
  • In the PM’s own seat of Holborn St Pancras, 27.5%  of children live in relative poverty, equating to 4127 children.

• In 187 constituencies, more than two thirds (66.66%) of people support the gambling tax proposal. 

• Support is even higher amongst older voters, with 75% of those aged 65+ supporting the proposal 
• The constituencies that most strongly back the plan are Ceredigion Preseli (79.52%), Honiton and Sidmouth (76.11%) and Rutland and Stamford (75.69%) New Forest West (75.45%) and Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (75.15%) where over three-quarters of people support the plan. 

Full data is available here.

CEO of 38 Degrees, Matthew McGregor, said:

“Undoing the Conservative government’s two-child limit with money raised from a new tax on gambling giants should be a no-brainer for a Labour government who say they’re focused on child poverty. Not only is it the quickest and most cost effective way to lift hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty, it’s a popular move that’s backed by voters in constituencies the length of the country.

This country is in the grip of a child poverty emergency, one that Ministers can’t fail to see in their own seats, amongst the families they represent. The time for action is now, and the message from voters to Rachel Reeves, Pat McFadden and others is clear – tax gambling companies,  end child poverty and give all our kids the start in life that they deserve.” 

Notes

About the research:

Survation undertook this research on behalf of 38 Degrees. Fieldwork was carried out between 21st August and 1st September 2025 on a population of 8,546 residents aged 18+ living in the UK. The survey was conducted online with differential response rates from different demographic groups taken into account. Data were weighted to the profile of all adults in the UK aged 18+.

Using Multilevel Regression and Poststratification (MRP), Survation is able to use this large dataset to produce estimates of opinion and attitudes for small defined geographic areas. More information about MRPs is available at survation.com/what-is-mrp.

Margin of Error

Because only a sample of the full population was interviewed, all results are subject to a margin of error, meaning that not all differences are statistically significant.

For example, in a question where 50% (the worst-case scenario as far as margin of error is concerned) gave a particular answer, given the sample of 8,546, it is 95% certain that the ‘true’ value will fall within the range of 1.06% from the sample result.

All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error. On the basis of the historical record of the polls at recent general elections, there is a 9 in 10 chance that the true value of a party’s support lies within 4 points of the estimates provided by this poll, and a 2 in 3 chance that they lie within 2 points.

About 38 Degrees
38 Degrees is a community of a million people who – in a moment away from their busy days – take small actions on issues they care about, which all add up to something bigger, a movement for a better Britain for everyone who calls our country home. 

With supporters in every UK constituency, we come from all walks of life; we’re nurses, taxi drivers, parents, shopkeepers, pensioners and more. 

With on and offline campaigning technology, a creative and dedicated staff team and a people powered movement, we work to change lives, communities and our country, and by coming together we can have an impact far greater than any of us could  achieve alone. 

Whether it’s the grieving wife who forced the Government to review betting laws after the tragic loss of her husband to gambling-related suicide, or the 1.2 million of us who pressured Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE, every time we win, we move our country a step towards the fairer, more sustainable place we’re fighting for, where we are treated – and treat each other – with respect.