Immigration continues to be seen as the most important issue facing Britain

Ipsos Issues Index: February 2026 

The February 2026 Ipsos Issues Index reveals that immigration continued to be seen as the biggest issue facing the country that month. Forty-one per cent of the public saw it as a concern, unchanged since January. The economy and NHS remained the second- and third-biggest issues, mentioned by 32% and 26% respectively. Inflation (21%) and lack of faith in politicians and politics (17%) round out the public’s top five biggest issues.

Elsewhere in the top ten, concern about crime rose by four points, mentioned by 12%. There has also been a three-point drop in the proportion who mention poverty and inequality as a concern since January (now 10%).

While concern around immigration is high among most groups, it remains a particular concern for Reform UK (70%) and Conservative (52%) supporters, those aged 55-74 (52%) and 75+ (49%) and people in social grades C2DE (46%). 

Concern about a lack of faith in politicians/politicians is the fifth biggest issue for the country this month, mentioned by 17%. This is the highest level of concern recorded about this issue since March 2023. Supporters of the Green Party (24%) and Reform UK (21%) are particularly likely to see this as an issue.

The Index was recorded between 4-10 February, before the outbreak of war between Iran, the US and Israel in March.

Economic Optimism Index

Ipsos’ Economic Optimism Index asks Britons whether they think the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same, or get worse over the next twelve months, and has been tracking the economic mood of Britons since 1978.  

The February results show 13% think the economy will improve and 64% get worse, giving a net Ipsos Economic Optimism Index figure of -51. This is a small improvement since January (when it was -54), itself an improvement from the December 2025 index score of -66.

The level of net economic optimism this month (nineteen months into Keir Starmer’s premiership) remains the lowest record for a new Prime Minister at this stage, similar to that of Margaret Thatcher in October 1979 (-52).

Mike Clemence, Research Director at Ipsos said:

Completed ahead of the outbreak of fresh hostilities in the Middle East, the February Issues Index shows a steady picture, with immigration, the economy and the NHS continuing their run at the top Britons’ concerns for the country.

It is notable in the light of the Gorton and Denton by-election result that frustration with politics and politicians has reached its highest level in nearly three years, driven by the views of Green Party and Reform UK suporters. 

Notes to editors

• Ipsos' Issues Index is the longest-running gauge of British public concerns. It is conducted monthly and has provided an overview of the key issues concerning the country for over 50 years. The answers are spontaneous responses, and participants are not prompted.
• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,004 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Ipsos’ telephone omnibus was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted between 4 – 10th February 2026. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.