The NHS and Brexit are dominant as the two biggest issues facing Britain in this month’s Issues Index. Fifty-four per cent say the health service is a big concern, similar to the score last month (55%), while 52% consider Brexit to be a worry. This is the highest recorded level of concern about issues relating to Europe and the EU since the start of this survey series in September 1974; the previous highest score was 51%, in March 2017.

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

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain – February
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
54%
52%
22%
22%
19%
19%
17%
14%
13%
12%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
-1
+6
+3
+2
-1
-2
-1
%
Change since Jan:
Position
Top mentions %
+1
+1
-1
+2
-1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain – February
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
54%
52%
22%
22%
19%
19%
17%
14%
13%
12%
18%
34%
7%
2%
3%
4%
3%
3%
3%
2%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 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
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
Feb
2008
Feb
2009
Feb
2010
Feb
2011
Feb
2012
Feb
2013
Feb
2014
Feb
2015
Feb
2016
Feb
2017
Feb
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 day riots Riots across
England
Lowest score since
March 1991 (8%%)

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
58%
69%
33%
23%
15%
18%
8%
14%
15%
18%
64%
46%
17%
27%
25%
21%
24%
17%
12%
9%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Education
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

22. 22
Issues Facing Britain:
Men and women
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
50%
53%
21%
17%
16%
22%
17%
15%
12%
14%
58%
50%
24%
26%
23%
15%
18%
14%
14%
11%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Education/Schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MEN
WOMEN

23. 23
Issues Facing Britain:
Social grade
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
54%
61%
20%
24%
17%
22%
19%
13%
15%
14%
54%
40%
25%
19%
22%
14%
15%
16%
10%
10%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Education
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
ABC1
C2DE

24. 24
Issues Facing Britain:
Age group
Base: 1006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
45%
38%
15%
24%
24%
18%
20%
15%
8%
15%
53%
57%
24%
25%
19%
18%
21%
13%
13%
11%
63%
59%
27%
17%
17%
19%
12%
16%
16%
11%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe
Immigration/immigrants
Education/Schools
Housing
Economy
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Ageing population/social care
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
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 IndexBase: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
68%
60%
24%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Economy
65%
56%
23%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
49%
45%
29%
EU/Brexit
NHS
Education
65%
49%
32%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Immigration
48%
45%
28%
NHS
EU/Brexit
Education
46%
32%
24%
NHS
Housing
EU/Brexit
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket

26. 26
Issues Facing Britain:
Concern about the NHS by subgroup
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
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%
53%
56%
64%
Concern by
region:
54%
50%
58% 58%
64%
59%
49%
57%
51%
Overall
Concern about the NHS by key demographic groups:
42%
42% 48% 57% 58% 66%
47%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support

27. 27
Issues Facing Britain:
Concern about Brexit/EU by subgroup
Base: 1,006 British adults 18+, 2 – 11 February 2018
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:
64%
51%
41%
69%
Concern by
region:
52% 53% 50%
69%
46%
67%
56%
50%
32%
Overall
Concern about the EU/Brexit by key demographic groups:
42%
32%
42%
69% 57% 61%
44%
Men Women CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeGender Party support

28. 28
Issues Facing Britain
Months with multiple issues scoring more than 50%
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?
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2018
Month Big issues for the month
November 1977 Inflation/prices (64%) Unemployment (50%)
August 1978 Inflation/prices (63%) Unemployment (55%)
February 1979 Trade Unions (73%) Inflation/prices (66%)
April 1979 Inflation/prices (68%) Trade Unions (56%) Unemployment (53%)
February 1980 Inflation/prices (65%) Trade Unions (55%)
April 1980 Inflation/prices (69%) Trade Unions (53%) Unemployment (51%)
December 1987 Unemployment (57%) NHS (52%)
March 1988 NHS (60%) Unemployment (56%)
April 1988 Unemployment (53%) NHS (50%)
October 1991 Unemployment (54%) NHS (51%)
September 1992 Unemployment (61%) Economy (53%)
October 1992 Unemployment (74%) Economy (50%)
April 1997 NHS (63%) Education (54%)
February 2018 NHS (54%) Brexit (52%)

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