The government has faced a barrage of criticism over its plans to limit the amount of tax relief individuals can claim for charitable donations.

But feedback from Today programme listeners suggests that there is support for the chancellor's proposals.

Polly Toynbee, writer, commentator and Guardian columnist, told the Today programme's Evan Davis that George Osborne "has a duty as chancellor to close all those loop holes" that rich people use to avoiding paying tax.

"It seems to me that giving is something you do after paying your taxes," she said.

But John Low, chief executive of Charities Aid Foundation, argued that a recent survey showed that over 93% of coalition back benchers said they wanted the government to do all they can to use the tax system to encourage philanthropy in this country.

"Charities will lose huge amounts of money, even because of this debate," he said. "Surely we should be celebrating our great philanthropists, not vilifying them as tax dodgers or morally corrupt."

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