This document summarizes the results of an Ipsos MORI Issues Index survey of 1,008 British adults conducted between March 31 and April 10, 2017. The top three issues facing Britain according to respondents were the Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe at 48%, NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare at 48%, and Immigration/immigrants at 29%. Compared to the previous month, concern about Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism increased the most at +8%. The document provides long-term trend data on the most important issues in Britain going back 20 years.

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

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain – April
Base: 1,008 British adults 18+, 31 March – 10 April 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
48%
48%
29%
22%
20%
16%
16%
14%
14%
12%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
-3
+3
+3
+3
+1
+8
0
+1
+4
+4
%
Change since Mar:
Position
Top mentions %
-1
-1
+4
-1
+1
+1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain – April
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
48%
48%
29%
22%
20%
16%
16%
14%
14%
12%
31%
13%
13%
5%
2%
5%
3%
4%
3%
2%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 1,008 British adults 18+, 31 March – 10 April 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
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
2007
Apr
2008
Apr
2009
Apr
2010
Apr
2011
Apr
2012
Apr
2013
Apr
2014
Apr
2015
Apr
2016
Apr
2017
NHS UNEMPLOYMENT
CRIME/LAW &
ORDER ECONOMY IMMIGRATION EU/BREXIT

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 June 2002
(52%)
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
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
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
51%: Highest recorded score
(since September 1974)

8. 8
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
EU Border controls
relaxed for Romanians
and Bulgarians
Highest concern
ever recorded (56%)

9. 9
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
February 2008 (19%)
Northern Rock
nationalised

10. 10
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 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

11. 11
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%)

12. 12
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

13. 13
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 “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

14. 14
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

15. 15
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

16. 16
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
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

17. 17
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
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

18. 18
Vote 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
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

19. 19
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%)

20. 20
Top issues – concern by party support
Base: 226 Conservative and 251 Labour supporters aged 18+, 31 March – 10 April 2017
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
61%
52%
38%
29%
21%
20%
14%
12%
12%
12%
44%
48%
25%
22%
20%
17%
18%
20%
20%
13%
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
Economy
Education/Schools
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

21. 21
Brexit and NHS key issues for all ages and social
grades. ABC1s put more emphasis on 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: 1,008 British adults 18+, 31 March – 10 April 2017
63%
59%
29%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Immigration
59%
49%
29%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Immigration
47%
46%
27%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Economy
45%
37%
36%
NHS
Immigration
EU/Brexit
45%
41%
32%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Immigration
39%
35%
23%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Unemployment
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket

22. 22
Concern about EU/Brexit by subgroup
Base: 1,008 British adults 18+, 31 March – 10 April 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:
55%
47%
42%
52%
Concern by
region:
48%
42%
48%
54%
61%
44%
66%
49%
41%
34%
Overall
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
41%
46% 38%
53% 53% 50%49%
Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Sub-
urban

23. 23
Concern about the NHS by subgroup
Base: 1,020 British adults 18+, 10 – 19 March 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:
44%
46%
45%
52%
Concern by
region:
48% 46% 47%
52% 52%
48%
56%
47% 47%
39%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
46%
41% 43% 44% 58% 49%51%
Sub-
urban