The July Ipsos MORI/Economist Issues Index finds that Brexit and the NHS continue to head the public’s list of the biggest issues facing Britain, despite recent drops in the proportion naming either. Currently, half (50%) see the NHS as a concern – down eleven percentage points since May, but still the highest level for fifteen years. Similarly, 41% consider Brexit to be a big issue; ten percentage points lower than in March this year but still an historically high score. Behind the NHS and Brexit, the British public have a similar level of concern about three other issues. Around one quarter name immigration (28%), the economy and education (both 25%) as a worry, close to the scores recorded in June for all three.

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

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain – July
Base: 1,012 British adults 18+, 30 June – 10 July 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
50%
41%
28%
25%
25%
19%
19%
17%
14%
14%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
-4
-1
0
+2
-2
-10
+2
-1
-4
+1
%
Change since June:
Position
Top mentions %
+2
-1
-3
+2
+2
+1
-3

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain – July
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
50%
41%
28%
25%
25%
19%
19%
17%
14%
14%
14%
25%
10%
7%
2%
7%
4%
5%
3%
2%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/Social care
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 1,012 British adults 18+, 30 June – 10 July 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
May
2017
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
Jul
2007
Jul
2008
Jul
2009
Jul
2010
Jul
2011
Jul
2012
Jul
2013
Jul
2014
Jul
2015
Jul
2016
Jul
2017
NHS EU/BREXIT IMMIGRATION ECONOMY HOUSING UNEMPLOYMENT

6. 6
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
May-10 Nov-10 May-11 Nov-11 May-12 Nov-12 May-13 Nov-13 May-14 Nov-14 May-15 Nov-15 May-16 Nov-16 May-17
Single biggest issue: Trend 2010 - 2017
What do you see as the most important issue facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
NHS EU/BREXIT IMMIGRATION ECONOMY
DEFENCE/
TERRORISM UNEMPLOYMENT

7. 7
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
Report says waiting lists have
doubled under Labour
Lowest score since
December 1985 (12%)
Highest score since April 2002
(61%)
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues IndexBase: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

8. 8
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
Cameron resigns
Cameron 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
May
2017
Treaty of Accession: ten 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)

9. 9
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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%)

10. 10
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
Global recession
and Russian
Financial crisis
Highest score since 1992;
Most important issue for
the first time
Sub-prime mortgage
crisis in the US
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

11. 11
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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

12. 12
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
Introduction of university 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
Highest score since
September 2006 (27%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

13. 13
GE 2017Vote 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
2017
May day riots Riots across
England
Lowest score since
March 1991 (8%)

14. 14
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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
London
Bridge
attack

15. 15
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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

16. 16
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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

17. 17
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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

18. 18
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
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

19. 19
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
Wettest Autumn since
records began –
widespread flooding
Nine killed in gales across
Britain and EU 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

20. 20
GE 2017Vote 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
May
2017
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Highest recorded
score (15%)

21. 21
Top issues – concern by party support
Base: 236 Conservative and 434 Labour supporters aged 18+, 30 June – 10 July 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
52%
54%
40%
27%
28%
23%
14%
11%
14%
17%
50%
37%
23%
28%
27%
20%
24%
24%
14%
14%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

22. 22
Top issues – concern by gender
Base: 493 men and 519 women aged 18+, 30 June – 10 July 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
41%
46%
27%
29%
19%
20%
19%
17%
12%
11%
58%
36%
30%
21%
30%
19%
19%
18%
16%
16%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Top mentions %
MEN
WOMEN

23. 23
Concern about the NHS is high in all groups; ABC1s
of all ages are more worried about Brexit
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: 1012 British adults 18+, 30 June – 10 July 2017
60%
52%
30%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Economy
54%
53%
33%
EU/Brexit
NHS
55%
45%
27%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Education
49%
39%
27%
NHS
Immigration
EU/Brexit
46%
34%
28%
NHS
Immigration
EU/Brexit
42%
29%
26%
NHS
Education
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket
Housing/
Immigration
Economy
/Education

24. 24
Concern about EU/Brexit by subgroup
Base: 1,012 British adults 18+, 30 June – 10 July 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:
44%
39%
36%
54%
Concern by
region:
41%
46%
36%
54%
37%
62%
45%
30%
22%
Overall
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
31%
35% 31%
48%
35%
50%41%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support

25. 25
Concern about the NHS by subgroup
Base: 1,012 British adults 18+, 30 June – 10 July 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:
43%
45%
51%
58%
Concern by
region:
50%
41%
58%
52% 50%
59%
48% 47% 45%
Overall
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
45%
49% 48% 46% 47% 53%55%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support

26. July 2017
ECONOMIST/IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
For more information contact:
Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Michael.Clemence@ipsos.com