The July 2018 Issues Index reveals that public concern about Britain and Europe has hit previously unrecorded levels. After a month that has seen the Government win a series of close-fought Parliamentary votes on Britain’s future relationship with the EU despite high profile Cabinet resignations, close to six in ten of the public now see Brexit as a major issue for the country. (Fieldwork for this wave was conducted from 6 - 16 July). This is the highest level of concern recorded about European-related matters since the Issues Index began in September 1974 – a period that includes the original referendum to enter the then-European Communities in June 1975. The previous highest score was in February of this year (52%).

1. IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Michael.Clemence@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000
July 2018

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain – July
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
58%
46%
19%
18%
18%
17%
16%
14%
11%
10%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Pollution/environment
+12
-2
-5
%
Change since June:
Position
Top mentions %
-2
-3
-1
-1
+2
-1
-1
+2
-1
+1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain – July
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
58%
46%
19%
18%
18%
17%
16%
14%
11%
10%
45%
12%
6%
4%
1%
4%
3%
4%
1%
1%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Pollution/environment
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018

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
May
2018
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
2008
Jul
2009
Jul
2010
Jul
2011
Jul
2012
Jul
2013
Jul
2014
Jul
2015
Jul
2016
Jul
2017
Jul
2018
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 Feb-11 Nov-11 Aug-12 May-13 Feb-14 Nov-14 Aug-15 May-16 Feb-17 Nov-17
Issues Facing Britain:
Single Biggest Issue 2010 - 2018
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
Cameron becomes PM GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May 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
May
2018
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;
May becomes PM
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Common Market / Europe / 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
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
May
2018
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
58%:
Highest score recorded (since 1974)

9. 9
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May 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?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Cameron becomes PM
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
2018
Border controls relaxed for “A8”
EU Countries (Poland, etc.)
EU Border controls relaxed
for Romanians and
Bulgarians
Highest concern
ever recorded (56%)

10. 10
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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
Northern Rock
nationalised
Lowest score since
December 2007 (16%)

11. 11
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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
August 2008 (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

12. 12
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
Introduction of university tuition fees;
Education the 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 2017
Vote for Brexit;
May becomes PMCameron 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
2018
May day riots Riots across
England
Lowest score since
March 1991 (8%)
Highest score since
November 2011 (23%)

14. 14
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
9/11
“7/7” London
Bombing
Invasion of Iraq
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;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
Sept 1999:
Alastair Darling – “one child
in three” living in poverty
December 2016:
highest recorded score (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;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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;
May becomes PMCameron 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
25
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
2018
Widespread flooding
during wet autumn
Nine killed in gales
across Britain
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;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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
Issues Facing Britain:
Party support
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
73%
52%
23%
21%
23%
10%
17%
6%
23%
12%
60%
54%
17%
16%
20%
24%
18%
21%
7%
13%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Pollution/environment
Top mentions %
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR SUPPORTERS

22. 22
Issues Facing Britain:
Men and women
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
62%
45%
21%
18%
14%
16%
19%
14%
11%
10%
55%
47%
18%
19%
21%
17%
13%
14%
12%
11%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Pollution/environment
Top mentions %
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
MEN
WOMEN

23. 23
Issues Facing Britain:
Social grade
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
67%
48%
17%
17%
22%
16%
18%
18%
15%
13%
47%
44%
22%
19%
12%
18%
14%
10%
7%
7%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Pollution/environment
Top mentions %
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
ABC1
C2DE

24. 24
Issues Facing Britain:
Age group
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
51%
42%
16%
14%
18%
20%
16%
15%
9%
11%
58%
45%
20%
22%
22%
20%
22%
14%
8%
9%
66%
50%
22%
18%
14%
11%
11%
13%
16%
11%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Pollution/environment
Top mentions %
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
18-34
35-54
55+

25. 25
Issues Facing Britain:
Age and social grade
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 Index
78%
51%
21%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
67%
49%
24%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
56%
43%
23%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
52%
48%
29%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Immigration
45%
41%
24%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Crime
44%
40%
22%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Housing
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
Education/
Defence

26. 26
Issues Facing Britain:
Concern about Brexit/EU by subgroup
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:
58%
53%
57%
72%
Concern by
region:
58%
62%
55%
73%
60%
74%
61%
53%
42%
Overall
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
48%
53% 49%
63% 68% 64%52%
Men Women CON LAB
Social GradeGender Party support
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
AB C1 C2 DE

27. 27
Issues Facing Britain:
Concern about NHS by subgroup
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? NHS
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Concern about the NHS by age group:
52%
48%
43%
54%
Concern by
region:
46% 45% 47%
52% 54% 54%
42%
47%
41%
Overall
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
31%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support
Base: 1,027 British adults 18+, 6 – 16 July 2018
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
39% 45% 51% 51% 49%40%

28. IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
July 2018
For more information contact:
Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Michael.Clemence@ipsos.com