The May 2018 Issues Index shows that public focus remains on the same issues as last month. The NHS is a bigger concern than Brexit overall, with half seeing the health service as a big issue for Britain (49%), ahead of the four in ten who say the same for Brexit (42%). Despite being the second-most important issue overall, Brexit is the most commonly cited concern when the public are asked to name the single biggest issue facing the country. Almost three in ten (28%) see Brexit as the most pressing issue, including one third of men (33%), four in ten of those from social grades AB (40%), and almost half of Conservatives (46%). By comparison, 18 per cent see the NHS as the single biggest issue facing Britain.

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

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain – May
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
49%
42%
23%
21%
19%
18%
18%
16%
12%
11%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/schools
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
+3
+2
+1
%
Change since Apr:
Position
Top mentions %
-1
+2
-7
+2
-1
+3
+1
-4
+3
+1
+1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain – May
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
49%
42%
23%
21%
19%
18%
18%
16%
12%
11%
18%
28%
6%
7%
6%
2%
3%
3%
2%
3%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/schools
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 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
Apr
2008
Apr
2009
Apr
2010
Apr
2011
Apr
2012
Apr
2013
Apr
2014
Apr
2015
Apr
2016
Apr
2017
Apr
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
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
52%: Highest recorded score

9. 9
GE 2017Vote for Brexit;
May becomes PM
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
May
2018
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;
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 (17%)

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
July 2008 (10%)
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 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;
May becomes PM
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
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 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;
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
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
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;
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
53%
63%
32%
26%
20%
17%
19%
14%
18%
18%
54%
33%
25%
17%
22%
22%
21%
20%
10%
11%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/schools
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

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
42%
47%
21%
22%
23%
13%
17%
15%
10%
13%
56%
37%
25%
21%
15%
23%
19%
17%
13%
10%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/schools
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MEN
WOMEN
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

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
54%
51%
22%
20%
19%
23%
18%
16%
14%
12%
43%
31%
24%
22%
19%
13%
18%
16%
8%
10%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/schools
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
ABC1
C2DE
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

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
48%
29%
18%
16%
23%
22%
20%
20%
11%
8%
50%
45%
24%
22%
20%
20%
20%
16%
10%
12%
50%
49%
26%
24%
15%
14%
15%
13%
13%
13%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/schools
Housing
Poverty/Inequality
Ageing population
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
18-34
35-54
55+
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

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
60%
55%
26%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Immigration
58%
54%
24%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
53%
31%
28%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Education
43%
37%
26%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Crime
43%
27%
25%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Crime &…
43%
30%
27%
NHS
Economy
EU/Brexit
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018
Crime/
Immigration

26. 26
Issues Facing Britain:
Concern about the NHS by subgroup
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:
48%
56%
49%
54%
Concern by
region:
49%
42%
56% 53% 54% 55% 54%
44% 43%
Overall
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
30%
51% 47% 52% 48% 50%48%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

27. 27
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:
47%
38%
43%
48%
Concern by
region:
42%
47%
37%
63%
33%
61%
41%
33%
29%
Overall
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
28%
30% 29%
49% 47% 50%
40%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

28. 28
Issues Facing Britain:
Concern about crime by subgroup
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Concern about crime by age group:
13%
26%
23%
18%
Concern by
region:
Concern about crime by key demographic groups:
31%
17% 20% 24% 25% 27%23%
23%
21%
25%
32%
25%
28%
21%
25%
18%
Overall Men Women CON LAB Home
owner
Mort-
gage
Social
tenant
Private
tenant
TenureGender Party support
Base: 1,015 British adults 18+, 11 – 29 May 2018

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