Three quarters of voters in 'red wall' seats would support a windfall tax on all large companies to help families with the cost of living.
Research by the Common Wealth think tank, carried out by pollster Survation, asked voters if they would back an extra tax on the profits of "large companies which have made billions of additional profits since the pandemic."
Just 6% said they would not support such a plan.
Mathew Lawrence, Director of Common Wealth, said: "In the aftermath of the Wakefield by-election, voters in the Red Wall are once again at the centre of British politics. Their demand is clear: they want action to create an economy that works for them.
“A windfall tax on not just oil and gas companies, but all of the corporate giants that have made spectacular and unexpected profits during the pandemic, would help address that demand for a fair economy.
“By huge margins voters in the Red Wall would support such a measure – and with living standards still under acute pressure even as some of the UK’s largest corporations see their profits surge – extending the windfall tax would be popular, fair, and timely."
Under UK law a “large company” is defined as having two out of three criteria: Turnover of more than £36 million, a balance sheet in excess of £18 million and more than 250 employees.
It was reported in September that six British firms had collectively made more than £16 billion in “excess profits” - that is, more profit than they were making before the pandemic - between March w020 and March 2021.
They included ASOS, outsourcing firm Serco and vaccine manufacturer Astrazenica.
Chris Hayes, a senior data analyst at the think tank, added: “Whatever the underlying causes of the inflation spikes we’re seeing, the upshot is a situation where certain, well-placed firms in certain, well-placed sectors are able to enjoy bumper profits well in excess of what they have earned historically and of what they need to sustain themselves.
“This comes at the expense of both households and other companies further down the supply chain.”
He added: “This doesn't need to be turned into a morality play to recognize the inequality at the heart of the current crisis, which any reasonable effort to tackle the cost of living crisis must address.”
