Healthcare Key For Older Voters

Healthcare is the key issue for pensioners, as for the electorate as a whole, in deciding which party to vote for at the forthcoming general election, according to a MORI survey for Help the Aged. Three in five 65+ year olds ranked it first, followed by pensions (56%) and law and order (53%).

When looking at which political party the over 65s think have the best policies on the key election issues, MORI finds that Labour has an 11 percentage point lead over Conservatives on healthcare (36% as against 25%), whereas on law and order the Conservatives have a much stronger 32 point lead over Labour (51% to 19%). On pensions there is a clear split among older people. Of those aged between 65 and 74 years, the Conservatives have a four point lead (29% to 25%), but among pensioners over 75 years this turns into a Labour lead of seven points (36% to 29%).

Within health-related services, hospital cleanliness and MRSA is cited by over six in ten (62%) older people -- by far the most important health issue for the Government to improve over the next few years.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,948 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain, face-to-face, in home, between 17-21 February 2005. Data are weighted to the national population profile.

Topline Results

Q1 Looking ahead to the next General Election, which, if any, of these issues do you think will be very important to you in helping you decide which party to vote for? Base: All 18+

Q2 I would like you to tell me whether you think the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats or some other party has the best policy on: Healthcare Base: All adults 18+who say this issue is very important in helping them decide who to vote for (1,142)

Q3 I would like you to tell me whether you think the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats or some other party has the best policy on: Law and Order Base: All adults 18+who say this issue is very important in helping them decide who to vote for (903)

Q4 I would like you to tell me whether you think the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats or some other party has the best policy on: Pensions Base: All adults 18+who say this issue is very important in helping them decide who to vote for (820)

Q5 Looking at this list of health-related services, which two or three items would you say it is most important for the Government to improve over the next few years? Base: All adults 18+