Concern about the NHS and education rises to the highest level for over a year

The September 2016 Ipsos Issues Index shows there has been a leap in public concern about the NHS.

This month the Economist/Ipsos Issues Index shows there has been a leap in public concern about the NHS, with 40% seeing it as a big issue facing the country, up nine percentage points from August and the highest score since June 2015. Having said that, only 10% see it as the biggest single issue facing the country. Fieldwork began just before the cancellation of the September Junior Doctors’ strike, scheduled for the 12th – 16th September.

Concern with immigration has also risen by four percentage points, with 39% seeing it as one of the biggest issues facing Britain and 20% saying it is the single biggest issue. The EU is seen as the third biggest issue, by 35% of the public (also up for percentage points), and is also seen as the single biggest issue facing the country (by 23%).

Following the Government’s announcement on grammar schools, those who say education is a key issue have risen by five percentage points to 19%, the highest since May 2015. Concern about education amongst Labour supporters has risen by nine percentage points since August, from 16% to 25%, whilst concern amongst Conservative party supporters has remained unmoved at 14%.

For supporters of the Conservative party, the biggest issue this month remains immigration (49%), followed by the EU (45%) and the NHS (44%) – whilst for Labour party supporters the top three issues are reversed, with the NHS as the biggest issue (41%).

 

Technical note

Ipsos's Issues Index is conducted monthly and provides an overview of the key issues concerning the country. Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 980 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. The questions are spontaneous - i.e. respondents are not prompted with any answers. 

Ipsos's Capibus vehicle was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in-home between 2nd and 22nd September in 181 sampling points across Great Britain. Data is weighted to match the profile of the population.

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