The March 2017 Ipsos MORI/Economist Issues Index shows a new record in the proportion who see the EU/Brexit as one of the biggest issues facing Britain. Half (51%) now cite it as an issue, six percentage points higher than February and the highest score since records began in September 1974. Fieldwork was conducted 10-19 March, prior to the attack outside Parliament on the 22nd of this month.

1. March 2017
ECONOMIST/IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Michael.Clemence@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain – March
Base: 1,020 British adults 18+, 10 – 19 March 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
51%
45%
26%
19%
19%
16%
13%
10%
10%
8%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Education/Schools
Economy
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population/
Social care for elderly
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
+6
-7
+4
-1
0
0
+2
-3
-6
-2
%
Change since Feb:
Position
Top mentions %
-3
+1
+3
-1
+2
-1
-1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain – March
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
51%
45%
26%
19%
19%
16%
13%
10%
10%
8%
36%
13%
11%
2%
6%
4%
4%
3%
2%
1%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Education/Schools
Economy
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population/
Social care for elderly
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 1,020 British adults 18+, 10 – 19 March 2017

4. 4
Issues Facing Britain: Long Term Trends
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
NHS UNEMPLOYMENT
CRIME/LAW &
ORDER ECONOMY IMMIGRATION EU/BREXIT

5. 5
Issues Facing Britain: Ten Year Trends
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Mar
2007
Mar
2008
Mar
2009
Mar
2010
Mar
2011
Mar
2012
Mar
2013
Mar
2014
Mar
2015
Mar
2016
Mar
2017
NHS UNEMPLOYMENT
CRIME/LAW &
ORDER ECONOMY IMMIGRATION EU/BREXIT

6. 6
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
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
May
2015
May
2016
Report says waiting lists have
doubled under Labour
Lowest score since
December 1985 (12%)
Highest score since June 2002
(52%)
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues IndexBase: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

7. 7
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resignsCameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Common Market / Europe / Euro / EU / Brexit
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Treaty of Accession: 10 new
EU Member States
France and Holland reject
ratification of EU constitution
Lowest score
recorded (1%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
51%: Highest recorded score
(since September 1974)

8. 8
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Immigration / Immigrants
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
NB Until Sept 2014 the code was race relations/immigration/immigrants
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
May
2015
May
2016
Border controls relaxed for “A8” EU
Countries (Poland, etc.)
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
EU Border controls
relaxed for Romanians
and Bulgarians
Highest concern
ever recorded (56%)

9. 9
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Economy / Economic situation
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Global recession
and Russian
Financial crisis
Highest score since 1992;
Most important issue for
the first time
Sub-prime mortgage
crisis in the US
End of
recession
announced
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Lowest score since
February 2008 (19%)
Northern Rock
nationalised

10. 10
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
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
May
2015
May
2016
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
Lowest score
since September
2008 (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

11. 11
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Crime / Law & Order / Violence / Vandalism / ASB
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
May day riots
Riots across
England
9/11
Lowest score since
March 1991 (8%)

12. 12
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Education / Schools
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Introduction of means-tested tuition
fees. Education most important issue.
First City Academies
introduced
Lowest score since
Dec 1985 (9%)
Labour’s second term - pledge to
improve failing secondary schools
April 2011 – Pupil
Premium introduced
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

13. 13
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Defence / Foreign Affairs / International terrorism
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
9/11 “7/7” London
Bombing
Invasion of Iraq
Failed terror
attacks in London
and Glasgow
UK withdraws
from Iraq
War in
Kosovo
Parliamentary vote
against action in Syria
NATO bombing
in Libya
Rise
of IS
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Paris attacks and
Parliamentary vote for
action against IS in Syria

14. 14
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Poverty/inequality
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
25
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
May
2015
May
2016
Sept 1999:
Alastair Darling – “one child in
three” living in poverty
December 2016:
highest score
recorded (20%)
January 2005:
Make Poverty History campaign
launched on New Year’s Day
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

15. 15
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Inflation/Prices
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Lowest score since
Sep 2007 (4%)
Inflation rate hits 16 year
peak
Inflation rises
to 3.4%
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

16. 16
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Housing
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Highest score since
October 1974 (22%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

17. 17
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Pensions/Social Security/Benefits
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Equitable Life sells
its non-profit
pension annuities
Labour proposes ‘affluence testing’ to
exclude the well-off from state
benefits
Gordon Brown unveils
pension credits
Pensions commission report –
“more than 12 million working
people are not saving enough for
their retirement”
Lowest ever
score (3%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

18. 18
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resignsCameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Pollution / Environment
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
May
2016
Wettest Autumn since
records began –
widespread flooding
across the UK
EC proposes carbon emission
cuts of 20% by 2020
Winter flooding
and storms
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

19. 19
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Low pay/minimum wage/fair wages
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
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
May
2015
May
2016
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Highest recorded
score (15%)

20. 20
Top issues – concern by party support
Base: 235 Conservative and 251 Labour supporters aged 18+, 10 – 19 March 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
60%
49%
34%
21%
23%
12%
9%
5%
14%
11%
47%
44%
23%
22%
19%
21%
19%
16%
7%
7%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Education/Schools
Economy
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population/
Social care for elderly
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

21. 21
Brexit is the key issue for ABC1s.
For C2DEs the NHS remains as, or more, important.
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Top three issues by age and social grade
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues IndexBase: 1,020 British adults 18+, 10 – 19 March 2017
63%
52%
33%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Immigration
63%
52%
31%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
56%
41%
27%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Economy
43%
42%
34%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Immigration
50%
39%
27%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Immigration
32%
31%
26%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Housing
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket

22. 22
Concern about EU/Brexit by subgroup
Base: 1,020 British adults 18+, 10 – 19 March 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? EU/Europe/Brexit
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Concern about the EU/Brexit by age group:
70%
44%
44%
60%
Concern by
region:
51% 50% 50%
54%
60%
47%
68%
54%
42%
35%
Overall
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
49%
45% 43% 57% 56% 53%49%
Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Sub-
urban

23. 23
Concern about the NHS by subgroup
Base: 1,020 British adults 18+, 10 – 19 March 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? NHS
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Concern about the NHS by age group:
42%
46%
45%
52%
Concern by
region:
45%
33%
49% 50% 49%
44%
51%
47% 45%
38%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
35%
41%
32%
55% 52% 45%46%
Sub-
urban