This document summarizes the results of an Ipsos MORI Issues Index survey of 998 British adults in May 2014 about the most important issues facing Britain. The top three issues mentioned were the economy at 36%, unemployment at 34%, and housing at 32%. Concerns about the NHS increased slightly to 27% from April. The document provides long-term trend data on key issues going back to 1997.

1. Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Jerry.Latter@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
May 2014

2. 2
Base: 998 British adults 18+, 2nd – 12th May 2014 Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain: May
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
36
34
32
27
17
16
15
14
14
12
Top mentions %
Economy
Unemployment
Housing
NHS
Race relations/Immigration
Education/Schools
Inflation/Prices
Poverty/Inequality
Change since Apr:
0
0
+2
+1
+2
+2
0
-1
0
+2
% Position
Crime/Law and order
Pensions/benefits
-2
+2
+1

3. 3
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain: Long Term Trends
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Unemployment
NHS
Crime/
Law & Order
Economy
Race / immigration

4. 4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Economy / Economic situation
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Global Recession and
Russian Financial
crisis
Highest score since 1992.
Most important issue for the
first time
Sub-prime
mortgage crisis in
the US
Northern Rock
nationalised
End of
recession
announced
Bank
bailout
Cameron becomes
PM
Lowest score since
June 2008 (36%)

5. 5
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Race Relations / Immigration / Immigrants
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Race riots in
Burnley, Oldham,
and Bradford
Sangatte detention
centre constantly in the
news throughout 2002
9/11
Anthony Walker
murdered in
Liverpool
Foreign
prisoners
furore
Cameron becomes
PM
Border controls relaxed for
Romanians and Bulgarians

6. 6
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Unemployment / Factory closure / Lack of industry
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Unemployment falls
below 1 million for first
time in 25 years
Minimum wage
introduced
Unemployment in
Britain rises to
5.5%
Lowest ever score
(5%)
Youth unemployment
reaches 1 million
Cameron becomes
PM

7. 7
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Crime / Law & Order / Violence / Vandalism / ASB
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Fuel
Protests
May day riots
Blair activates civil contingencies
machinery to deal with spiralling street
crime
Tory election pledge of
40,000 more police
Foreign prisoners scandal –
Charles Clarke is sacked
Rhys Jones and
Garry Newlove
murdered
Riots
Prison
overcrowding
reaches record
levels
9/11
Cameron becomes
PM

8. 8
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
NHS / Hospitals / Healthcare
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Blair tells doctors “not enough”
has been done for the NHS –
allocates extra £20 billion. Report
says waiting lists have doubled
under Labour
Blair – “We have underfunded the NHS
for years and we are paying the price for
it” – BBC NHS day
Alan Milburn promises 35,000 more
nurses, 40 new hospitals and
development of foundation trusts as part
of NHS plan
General Election – “Battle
of Margaret’s shoulder”
Hewitt heckled at UNISON
conference – fears over NHS
job cuts
Lowest score
since
December 1985
Cameron becomes
PM

9. 9
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Education / Schools
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
London
Bombs
Introduction of
means-tested tuition
fees. Education most
important issue.
Fuel
Protests
City academies introduced to
combat entrenched failure in
some urban schools
Lowest score
since Dec 1985
(9%)
Labour’s second term - pledge to
improve failing secondary schools
Education and
Inspections Bill limits
the power of LAs to
open new schools
April 2011 – Pupil Premium
introduced
Cameron becomes
PM

10. 10
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Defence / Foreign Affairs / International terrorism
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
9/11
London
Bombs
War in
Iraq
General Election - extra £400
million allocated for defence
budget
Failed terror
attacks in
London and
Glasgow
UK
withdraws
from Iraq
War in
Kosovo
Parliamentary
vote on action in
Syria
Cameron becomes
PM
Libyan Civil war:
height of NATO
bombing campaign

11. 11
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Poverty/inequality
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
5
10
15
20
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Sept 1999: Alastair
Darling – “one
child in three”
living in poverty
November 2013 –
highest score
recorded (16%)
January 2005 –
Make Poverty
History campaign
launched on New
Year’s Day
Cameron becomes
PM

12. 12
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Inflation/Prices
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Inflation rate
hits 16 year
peak
Inflation rises to
3.4%
Cameron becomes
PM

13. 13
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Housing
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
5
10
15
20
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
9/11
House price
peak
A8 Countries join
the EU
House prices rising
at fastest rate in 10
years
2005 Election – Blair promises
to make families £800 better off
and help first time buyers
Highest score
since August
2008 (14%)
Cameron becomes
PM

14. 14
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Pensions/Benefits/Social security
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Lords vote to increase
compensation for those whose
company pension schemes have
collapsed
Blair and Harriet Harman propose
‘affluence testing’ to exclude the
well-off from state benefits
Brown unveils
pension credits
Pensions commission report –
“more than 12 million working
people are not saving enough
for their retirement”
Lowest ever
score (3%)
Cameron becomes
PM

15. 15
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Pollution / Environment
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
5
10
15
20
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Cameron’s “Vote
Blue, go Green”
campaign at 2006
local elections
Buncefield Oil Depot fire – toxic
cloud reaches northern Spain
Wettest Autumn since records began –
widespread flooding across the UK
EC proposes carbon
emission cuts of 20%
by 2020
Stern
Review on
climate
change
Cameron becomes
PM
Flooding
in England

16. 16
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain:
Common Market / Europe / Euro / EU
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
G8 commitment to
globalisation in
Cologne
9/11
Treaty of Accession:
10 new EU Member
States
UK starts 6 month
EU Presidency,
France and Holland
reject ratification of
constitution
Lowest score
recorded (1%)
Amsterdam Treaty signed –
increases EU remit
Cameron becomes
PM
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

17. 17
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Rising concern about inequality and our personal
financial situation
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
Cameron becomes
PM
One third (33%)
mention one of the
four issues
Prices/Inflation
Poverty/inequality
Low pay/fair wages
Petrol prices

18. 18
34%
27%
27%
28%
18%
AB C1 Overall C2 DE
Who is most concerned about the NHS?
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Base: 998 British adults 18+, 2nd – 12th May 2014 Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
21%
27%
28%
30%
18-34 Overall 35-54 55+
23%
27%
31%*
*Midlands only: 34%
27%
37%
17%
27%
Concern by age and
social grade
Concern by region Concern by newspaper
readership
Independent, Daily Telegraph, FT, The
Times, The Guardian , The Scotsman
Quality papers
Mid-market papers
Red top papers
Overall
Daily Record, The Sun, The Mirror,
The Star
Daily Express, Daily Mail

19. 19
10%
18%
17%
12%
14%
AB C1 C2 DE Overall
Who is most concerned about housing?
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Housing
Base: 998 British adults 18+, 2nd – 12th May 2014 Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
14%
14%
18%
10%
18-34 Overall 35-54 55+
10%
21%
10%
13%
12%
15%
17%
Concern by age and
social grade
Concern by region Concern by tenure
Owns property
Mortgaged
Council renter
Private renter
36%
Greater
London

20. 20
The economy as an issue and economic
optimism
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Do you think that the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same or get worse over the next 12 months?
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
% “economy an issue”
EOI net score
%thinkeconomyisanissue
EconomicOptimismIndexnetscore

21. 21
Base: 287 UKIP supporters from Issues Index data, Jan – May 2014 Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Issues Facing Britain in 2014: UKIP supporters
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
74
30
26
23
20
19
14
13
12
10
36
38
25
30
8
15
12
12
6
10
Top mentions %
Economy
Unemployment
Housing
NHS
Race relations/Immigration
Overpopulation
Low pay/minimum wages
EU
Crime/Law and order
Pensions/benefits
All
UKIP supporters
8
10
16
15
Education
Poverty/inequality
Issues of more general concern outside
UKIP supporters’ top ten: