In the latest end of year Ipsos MORI/Economist Issues Index, there has been a sharp rise in those who see the NHS as one of the biggest issues facing Britain. Concern has risen eight percentage points since November and stands at 40%, above Brexit and immigration, which are both on 36% this month. Fieldwork occurred across December and early January, when stories about the pressures facing the NHS topped the news agenda.

1. End of Year 2016
ECONOMIST/IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Michael.Clemence@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain
Base: 1,028 British adults 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15th January 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
40%
36%
36%
25%
20%
19%
18%
13%
13%
12%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
European Union/Europe/Brexit
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Housing
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Crime/law and order/ASB
Defence/foreign
affairs/terrorism
+8
-3
-1
+1
+6
+1
+1
-1
-1
+2
%
Change since Nov:
Position
Top mentions %
+2
-1
+3
-1
+1
-1
-1
-1
-1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
40%
36%
36%
25%
20%
19%
18%
13%
13%
12%
10%
24%
19%
8%
5%
3%
2%
3%
2%
3%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
European Union/EU/Brexit
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Housing
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 1,028 British adults 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15th January 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
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
Border controls
relaxed for
Romanians and
Bulgarians
Highest concern
ever recorded (56%)

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 April 2006
(47%)
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
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
Brexit; highest score since
April 1997 (40%)

8. 8
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 March 2008
(22%)
Northern Rock
nationalised

9. 9
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 October 2008
(14%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index

10. 10
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%)

11. 11
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

12. 12
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 London
Bombs
Invasion of Iraq –
protests across Europe
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

13. 13
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

14. 14
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

15. 15
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
“A8” Countries
join the EU
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

16. 16
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
Blair and Harriet Harman propose
‘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

17. 17
Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron 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

18. 18
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%)

19. 19
Top issues – concern by party support
Base: 191 Conservative and 278 Labour supporters aged 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15tjh January 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
42%
45%
47%
27%
13%
8%
21%
10%
18%
23%
43%
35%
30%
28%
27%
29%
21%
17%
15%
9%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
European Union/Europe/Brexit
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Housing
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Crime/Law and order/ASB
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

20. 20
Brexit is the most important issue for all ages in
social grades ABC1; for C2DE it is immigration
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: 1,028 British adults 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15th January 2017
50%
46%
32%
EU
NHS
Immigration
49%
42%
37%
EU
NHS
Economy
41%
38%
34%
EU
NHS
Economy
52%
48%
30%
Immigration
NHS
EU
44%
36%
27%
Immigration
NHS
EU
38%
30%
21%
Immigration
NHS
Economy
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket

21. 21
Concern about EU/Brexit by subgroups
Base: 1,028 British adults 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15th January 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:
34%
29%
38%
44%
Concern by
region:
36% 33%
45% 45%
35%
57%
38%
24% 23%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
34%
28% 25%
40% 40% 43%40%

22. 22
Concern about the NHS by subgroups
Base: 1,028 British adults 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15th January 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 NHS by age group:
33%
37%
40%
52%
Concern by
region:
40%
33%
42% 42% 43% 43% 42% 41%
35%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
31%
30% 36% 36%
48% 47%43%

23. 23
Concern about Poverty/Inequality by subgroups
Base: 1,028 British adults 18+, 2nd December 2016 – 15th January 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? Poverty/Inequality
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Concern about Poverty/Inequality by age group:
23%
15%
19%
21%
Concern by
region:
20% 22%
13% 13%
27%
24%
20%
16% 18%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Concern about Poverty/Inequality by key demographic group:
23%
22% 20%
26%
16%19% 16%