Immigration still seen as the biggest issue facing Britain, as concern about inflation and defence rises

• Forty-four per cent continue to see immigration as one of the most important issues facing the country. 
• Concern about inflation has risen six percentage points since August to 27%, close to worry about the broader economy
• Economic optimism has weakened, with two-thirds of Britons expecting the economy to worsen over the next year.

The economy remains the second-biggest issue for the country, mentioned by 29%. This is a small decrease of three percentage points since August.

The largest increase this month is in concern about inflation. Twenty-seven per cent of Britons now mention inflation as an important issue facing the country, up six points since August. It remains the third-biggest issue facing Britain. Concern is particularly high among those aged 18-34 (35%) and people in social grades ABC1 (29%).

Concern about defence and foreign affairs has also increased this month. Mentioned by 16% of Britons, it has risen five percentage points since August and returns as the fifth-biggest issue facing Britain.

Elsewhere in the ranking, concern about poverty and inequality has also declined, to seven per cent. This is the lowest level of concern recorded for this issue since February 2012.

Ipsos Economic Optimism Index
This month, 12% of Britons expect the economic situation to improve over the next twelve months, 16% expect it to stay the same and 66% think it will get worse – and increase of five points since August (61%). 
This gives a net Economic Optimism Index (EOI) score of -54, which is a six-point decline since August’s figure of -48 and substantially below the long-term average of-19. Declines are more marked among Labour party supporters (down 10 points), men and people in social grades ABC1 (both -8).

Mike Clemence, Research Director at Ipsos, said:

This month’s Index reconfirms the importance of the cost of living to British public sentiment. 
While immigration remains the biggest issue for the country, the economy polls second and concern about inflation has risen by six points since August. 
Our Economic Optimism Index has also fallen back, with two-thirds now pessimistic about the country’s economic condition over the coming year.”

Notes to editors

• For media enquiries, please contact the Ipsos in the UK Press Office at [email protected] 
• For the full findings, please visit the Ipsos website. 
• 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 1,003 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Ipsos' telephone omnibus was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted between 2-8 September 2026. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.