Issues Index August 2010

The economy remains the biggest issue facing the country, particularly among coalition supporters160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160160

For the 23^rd consecutive month, the economy is the most important issue facing the country, according to the public. Ipsos's160August Issues Index shows that three fifths (61%) are concerned about this issue, a similar figure to last month. Two fifths (42%) feel that it is the single most important issue, whilst a further 19% place it among the most important issues.

Coalition supporters are more likely to be concerned about the economy compared with supporters of other parties; 69% of Conservative voters mention it, as well as three quarters (74%) of Liberal Democrat supporters. 160

As has been the case since October, race relations/immigration is seen as the second most important issue facing Britain - three in ten (30%) mention it, and again there is a difference based on party allegiance - two fifths (39%) of Conservative supporters place it among the most important issues facing the country, compared with around a quarter of Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters.

However, Labour supporters are more likely to be concerned about unemployment (29%) compared with the average (24%) and Conservative voters (18%), and this, as with last month, is the third most important issue facing the country.

Crime/law and order has decreased in importance by five points since July, with the release of the British Crime Survey figures last month showing that crime has fallen to a 29-year low. Around a fifth (19%) mention it - the lowest proportion recorded by our monthly issues index since April 2004. Indeed, for much of 2007/2008 it was seen as the most important issue facing the country.

Just under a fifth (18%) are concerned about Education and the NHS, two issues which have declined considerably in perceived importance since Tony Blair's time as Prime Minister. One in ten (10%) are concerned about Benefits/Pensions/Social Security, and it will be interesting to see if this increases as pressure on public spending continues.

• Download the topline results (PDF)160
• Download the data tables (PDF)160
• Download the charts (PDF)160

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 978 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. The questions are spontaneous - i.e. respondents are not prompted with any answers.160 Ipsos's Capibus vehicle was used for this survey.160Interviews were conducted face-to-face160in-home between16013th-19th160August1602010 at 168 sampling points across Great Britain. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.