The annual British Social Attitudes Survey has found that while there remains strong public support for spending on health, education, care needs and sick and disabled people, there has been "a sea change" in attitudes on the left to some other forms of welfare.

In 1987, only 28 per cent of those on the left believed that "if welfare benefits weren't so generous, people would learn to stand on their own two feet".

By 2003, 48 per cent on the left held that view, while the proportion doing so on the right had declined from 43 per cent to 37 per cent