This document summarizes the results of an Ipsos MORI Issues Index survey conducted in September 2016 among 980 British adults regarding the most important issues facing Britain. The top three issues were the NHS/healthcare (40%), immigration/immigrants (39%), and the European Union/Europe (35%). Compared to the previous month, concern about immigration increased the most (+9%) while concern about crime decreased the most (-8%). The document also provides long-term trend data on the salience of these and other issues (economy, unemployment, etc.) going back to 1997.

1. September 2016
ECONOMIST/IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Michael.Clemence@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain: September
Base: 980 British adults 18+, 2nd and 22nd September 2016
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
40%
39%
35%
25%
19%
16%
16%
15%
13%
11%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
European Union/Europe
Economy
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Poverty/inequality
Housing
Crime/law and order/ASB
Defence/foreign
affairs/terrorism
+9
+5
-5
+4
+5
+1
+1
-7
-1
-8
%
Change since August:
Position
Top mentions %
-1
+1
+2
+4
-3
+1
-4
-1
+1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain: September
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
40%
39%
35%
25%
19%
16%
16%
15%
13%
11%
10%
20%
23%
9%
2%
4%
4%
4%
3%
3%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
European Union/EU
Economy
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Housing
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE
Base: 980 British adults 18+, 2nd-22nd September 2016

4. 4
Issues Facing Britain: Long Term Trends
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
NHS UNEMPLOYMENT
CRIME/LAW &
ORDER ECONOMY IMMIGRATION*
*Up until September 2014 the code was race relations/immigration/immigrants
HOUSING

5. 5
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resignsCameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Immigration / Immigrants
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
NB Until Sept 2014 the code was race relations/immigration/immigrants
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Border controls relaxed for “A8” EU
Countries (Poland, etc.)
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Border controls
relaxed for
Romanians and
Bulgarians
Highest concern
ever recorded (56%)

6. 6
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
NHS / Hospitals / Healthcare
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Report says waiting lists have
doubled under Labour
Lowest score since
December 1985 (12%)
Highest score since April 2006
(47%)
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues IndexBase: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

7. 7
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resignsCameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Common Market / Europe / Euro / EU
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Treaty of Accession: 10 new
EU Member States
France and Holland reject
ratification of EU constitution
Lowest score
recorded (1%)
UKIP come first in European
Parliament elections
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Highest score since April 1997
(40%)

8. 8
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Economy / Economic situation
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Global recession
and Russian
Financial crisis
Highest score since 1992;
Most important issue for
the first time
Sub-prime mortgage
crisis in the US
End of
recession
announced
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Lowest score
since March 2008
(22%)
Northern Rock
nationalised

9. 9
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Unemployment / Factory closure / Lack of industry
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
0
10
20
30
40
50
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Unemployment falls below 1
million for first time in 25 years
Minimum wage
introduced
Unemployment in
Britain rises to 5.5%
Lowest ever score
(5%)
Youth unemployment
reaches 1 million
Lowest score
since October 2008
(14%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index

10. 10
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Crime / Law & Order / Violence / Vandalism / ASB
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
May day riots Riots in
England
9/11
Lowest score since
March 1991 (8%)

11. 11
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resignsCameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Education / Schools
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Introduction of means-tested tuition
fees. Education most important issue.
First City Academies
introduced
Lowest score since
Dec 1985 (9%)
Labour’s second term - pledge to
improve failing secondary schools
April 2011 – Pupil
Premium introduced
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

12. 12
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Defence / Foreign Affairs / International terrorism
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
9/11 London
Bombs
Invasion of Iraq –
protests across Europe
Failed terror
attacks in London
and Glasgow
UK withdraws
from Iraq
War in
Kosovo
Parliamentary vote
against action in Syria
NATO bombing
in Libya
Rise
of IS
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Paris attacks and
Parliamentary vote for
action against IS in Syria

13. 13
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Poverty/inequality
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Sept 1999:
Alastair Darling – “one child in
three” living in poverty
July 2014:
highest score
recorded (18%)
January 2005:
Make Poverty History campaign
launched on New Year’s Day
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

14. 14
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Inflation/Prices
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Lowest score since
Sep 2007 (4%)
Inflation rate hits 16 year
peak
Inflation rises
to 3.4%
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

15. 15
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Housing
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
“A8” Countries
join the EU
Highest score since
October 1974 (22%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

16. 16
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Pensions/Social Security/Benefits
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Equitable Life sells
its non-profit
pension annuities
Blair and Harriet Harman propose
‘affluence testing’ to exclude the well-
off from state benefits
Gordon Brown unveils
pension credits
Pensions commission report –
“more than 12 million working
people are not saving enough for
their retirement”
Lowest ever
score (3%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

17. 17
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Pollution / Environment
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
May
1997
May
1998
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Wettest Autumn since
records began –
widespread flooding
across the UK
EC proposes carbon emission
cuts of 20% by 2020
Winter flooding
and storms
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

18. 18
Vote for Brexit; Cameron
resigns
Cameron becomes PM
Issues Facing Britain:
Low pay/minimum wage/fair wages
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
0
5
10
15
20
May
1999
May
2000
May
2001
May
2002
May
2003
May
2004
May
2005
May
2006
May
2007
May
2008
May
2009
May
2010
May
2011
May
2012
May
2013
May
2014
May
2015
May
2016
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
Highest recorded
score (15%)

19. 19
Top issues – concern by party support
Base: 232 Conservative and 291 Labour supporters aged 18+, 2nd - 22nd September 2016
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
44%
49%
45%
29%
14%
8%
9%
11%
10%
15%
41%
31%
34%
26%
25%
20%
25%
21%
11%
9%
NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare
Immigration/immigrants
European Union/Europe
Economy
Education/Schools
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Housing
Crime/Law and order/ASB
Defence/foreign
affairs/terrorism
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

20. 20
Age and social grade – different top issues amongst
ABC1s
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Top three issues by age and social grade
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues IndexBase: 980 British adults 18+, 2nd – 22nd September 2016
52%
49%
45%
EU
NHS
Immigration
50%
46%
32%
EU
NHS
Economy
38%
32%
30%
NHS
EU
Economy
55%
41%
27%
Immigration
NHS
EU
40%
33%
25%
Immigration
NHS
EU
34%
29%
28%
Immigration
NHS
Unemployment
18-3435-5455+
ABC1 C2DE
Social grade
Agebracket

21. 21
Concern about EU/Europe by subgroups
Base: 980 British adults 18+, 2nd -22nd September 2016
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? EU/Europe
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Concern about the EU by age group:
38%
32%
34%
32%
Concern by
region:
35%
26%
48% 45%
34%
53%
38%
25%
21%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeLocale Party support
Concern about the EU by key demographic groups:
26%
21% 27%
41% 39% 40%40%