Politics, Public Services and Society

At this stage in 2010, all eyes are on the upcoming election, which our latest polls suggest is getting tighter. So this seems an opportune moment to take stock of the state of public opinion, as voters face a decision that will set the direction of the economy, public spending and the shape of many public services, possibly for years to come.

So, on the eve of a general election campaign, we offer this review partly as a synthesis of our work on the major issues of the last year, partly as an interpretation of what seem to be the crucial dynamics for 2010. We've grouped these into three big themes: Politics, Public Services and Society.

In Politics we explore the ups and downs of support for the main parties, and what this may mean for the coming election. We look particularly at what role the economic crisis may play; the chart below shows it is still seen as by far the most important issue facing the country. Drawing on our long heritage of political polling we also compare now with other pre-election years and discuss how the expenses scandal has impacted on public trust in politicians and the political system.

In Public Services we explore what the public expect of services, how satisfied they are and where they think cuts could be made, if anywhere.

Finally, in Society we explore the potential wider impacts of the economic crisis - what it means for social mobility, the environment and business. We also look at how new technology may be changing the way public services are delivered, but is also creating a digital divide.