Immigration remains Britain’s biggest issue as concern about climate change and the environment rises

Ipsos Issues Index: August 2026

• Forty-two per cent continue to see immigration as one of the most important issues facing the country 
• Concern about climate change and the environment has risen by five points since July to thirteen per cent, entering this month’s top five concerns
• The Ipsos Economic Optimism Index has hit its highest score this year, although the public remain pessimistic about the economic outlook

Concern about immigration remains particularly high among Reform UK (81%) and Conservative (54%) supporters, those aged 55+ (52%) and people in social grades C2DE (47%).

The economy remains the second-biggest issue facing Britain for August, mentioned by 32% of Britons and up two percentage points since July. Inflation is the third-biggest concern at 21%, while the NHS is fourth on 20%

Concern about climate change and the environment has risen, following reports of extreme temperatures and wildfires across Europe and other parts of the world. Fieldwork was from 5-11 August, during the 37-day heatwave the UK experienced over this summer. Overall, 13% mention climate as an issue, an increase of five percentage points since July and the highest level since February 2024. Concern was higher still among Green Party supporters (38%), Liberal Democrat supporters (29%) and graduates (20%).

Ipsos Economic Optimism Index
This month, 13% of Britons expect the economic situation to improve over the next twelve months, while 61% think it will get worse and 22% expect it to stay the same. This gives a net Economic Optimism Index (EOI) score of -48.

This EOI score is the highest recorded in over a year (since June 2025). It represents a modest improvement on July's figure of -51 and continues the gradual recovery from the historic low of -72 recorded in April.

However, the proportion who expect the economy to improve has not increased since June, and this month’s EOI score remains substantially below the long-term historical average of -19.

Of the findings, Mike Clemence, Research Director at Ipsos, says:

Despite a month focussed on heatwaves and drought, immigration has continued to dominate the key issues for the country. While we saw concern about climate change and the environment re-enter the top five issues for Britons with its highest score in over two years, it was still mentioned by scarcely more than one in ten.

Our Economic Optimism Index has delivered some good news for Andy Burnham in his first full month as Prime Minister. We record the highest score in just over a year, with pessimism for the economy continuing to decline. However Britons remain deeply negative about the economy and the proportion who expect economic improvement is has not grown.

Notes:

• 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. 
• The Ipsos Economic Optimism Index measures citizens' expectations on whether the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same, or get worse over the next twelve months. This metric has been tracking the economic mood of Britons since 1978. 
• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 995 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Ipsos' telephone omnibus was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted between 5-11 August 2026. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.