This document summarizes the results of an Ipsos MORI Issues Index poll conducted in May 2015 with 980 British adults. It finds that the top issues facing Britain according to respondents are the NHS (44%), immigration/immigrants (40%), and the economy (36%). Other important issues included education/schools, unemployment, poverty/inequality, and housing. The document provides historical trends on how issues like the economy, immigration, unemployment, and the NHS have changed as priorities over time. It also shows differences in priorities between age groups and social grades.

1. MAY 2015
ECONOMIST/IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Jerry.Latter@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain: May
Base: 980 British adults 18+, 1st – 13th May 2015
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
44%
40%
36%
21%
19%
17%
16%
11%
11%
10%
NHS
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Housing
Low pay/fair wages
Pensions/Benefits
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
-3
+4
-1
0
+1
+5
+1
-2
0
0
%
Change since April:
+3
-1
-1
+1
+1
Position
Top mentions %

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain: May
Base: 980 British adults 18+, 1st – 13th May 2015
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
40%
36%
44%
17%
19%
16%
21%
11%
11%
10%
21%
20%
13%
8%
6%
4%
3%
3%
2%
2%
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
NHS
Poverty/Inequality
Unemployment
Housing
Education/Schools
Low pay/fair wages
Social/Social security/Benefits
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE

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
NHS UNEMPLOYMENT
CRIME/LAW &
ORDER ECONOMY IMMIGRATION

5. 5
Cameron becomes PM GE 2015
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
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 June 2008
(28%)
Northern Rock
nationalised

6. 6
Cameron becomes PM GE 2015
Issues Facing Britain:
Immigration / Immigrants*
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
* Up 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
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
Border controls relaxed for “A8” EU
Countries (Poland, etc.)
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Border controls relaxed for
Romanians and Bulgarians
Highest score since March
2008 (45%)

7. 7
GE 2015Cameron 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
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 December
2008 (18%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index

8. 8
GE 2015Cameron 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 day riots Riots in
England
9/11
Murder of
Rhys Jones

9. 9
GE 2015Cameron 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
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
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

10. 10
GE 2015Cameron 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
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
Education and Inspections Bill
limits the power of LAs to open
new 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

11. 11
GE 2015Cameron 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
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
on action in Syria
NATO bombing in
Libyan Civil War
Rise of
ISIS
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

12. 12
GE 2015Cameron 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
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
Sept 1999:
Alastair Darling – “one child in
three” living in poverty
July 2014:
highest score recorded (18%)
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

13. 13
GE 2015Cameron 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
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

14. 14
GE 2015Cameron 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
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
A8 Countries
join the EU
House prices
rising at fastest
rate in 10 years
Highest score since
July 2007 (16%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

15. 15
GE 2015Cameron 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
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
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

16. 16
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
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
Flooding in
England
GE 2015Cameron becomes PM
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

17. 17
GE 2015Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Common Market / Europe / Euro / EU
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
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
May
2015
9/11
Treaty of
Accession: 10
new EU Member
States
France and Holland reject
ratification of EU constitution
Lowest score
recorded (1%)
Amsterdam Treaty signed
Post Euro elections:
Highest score since June
2005 (12%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

18. 18
Age and social grade – different priorities
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Education/immigration / NHS / Economy
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
27%
31%
40%
45%
41%
52%
34%
10%
26%
16%
24%
12%
37%
27%
43%
28%
48%
28%
40%
28%
52%
35%
53%
51%
ABC1 18-34 C2DE 18-34 ABC1 35-54 C2DE 35-54 ABC1 55+ C2DE 55+
IMMIGRATION EDUCATION ECONOMY NHS
Base: 980 British adults 18+, 1st – 13th May 2015