Defence rises to become as big an issue for Britain as the NHS

The March 2025 Ipsos Issues Index reveals a sharp increase in the level of public concern about defence and foreign affairs. Twenty-nine per cent mention this as a big issue for Britain, an increase of twelve points since last month and the highest score since March 2022 ,in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Defence concern is higher still among the over 65s (44%), social grades AB (38%) and men (34%), while it is a lower priority for Reform UK voters (22%) and young people (12% among 18-24 year olds).

However, the economy and immigration are this month’s biggest issues, mentioned by 34% and 33% respectively. Immigration is a particular concern for older groups (41% among over 55s) and Reform UK voters (78%). It is also seen as the single biggest issue this month, mentioned by 18%, ahead of the economy (15%) and defence (14%).

The proportion of Britons who see the NHS as one of the biggest issues remains similar to February, on 29%. Concern about inflation has risen somewhat, to 23% - although it is a much bigger concern for ethnic minority Britons (35%) and 18-34 year olds (32%).

Five other issues occupy the top ten biggest concerns, each mentioned by just over one in ten Britons: housing, a lack of faith in government and politics, education, poverty, and crime.

Mike Clemence, Research Director at Ipsos said: 

Defence and foreign affairs has jumped up the list of public concerns this month. But rather than displacing any long-running issues like the economy, immigration and the NHS, it is adding another dimension to the things Britons are worried about. Immigration and the economy are the joint biggest issues this month. While concern about the economy is more broadly distributed across Britons, immigration worry remains tightly concentrated among older groups and Conservative and Reform UK supporters.

Technical note: 

• Ipsos' Issues Index is conducted monthly and provides an overview of the key issues concerning the country. Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. The answers are spontaneous responses, and participants are not prompted with any answers. Ipsos’ telephone omnibus was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted between 5-11 March 2025. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.