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.
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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