The October Economist/Ipsos MORI Issues Index shows that, as has been the case since August, over half (52%) of the public mention immigration as among the most important issues facing Britain. For a third (34%) it is the single most important issue. This is a drop of four percentage points since last month, though concern remains at a historic high.

1. OCTOBER 2015
ECONOMIST/IPSOS MORI ISSUES INDEX
Contacts: Gideon.Skinner@ipsos.com
Jerry.Latter@ipsos.com
020 7347 3000

2. 2
Issues Facing Britain: October
Base: 1,002 British adults 18+, 9th – 19th October 2015
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
52%
37%
26%
20%
19%
17%
14%
14%
12%
12%
Immigration/immigrants
NHS
Economy
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Education/Schools
Low pay/fair wages
-4
+1
+5
+1
+2
+2
+3
+2
-2
-2
%
Change since Sep:
Position
Top mentions %
+2
-3
-1
+3
-1
-1
+1

3. 3
Issues Facing Britain: October
Base: 1,002 British adults 18+, 9th – 19th October 2015
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
52%
37%
26%
20%
19%
17%
14%
14%
12%
12%
34%
9%
11%
4%
5%
8%
2%
4%
1%
3%
Immigration/immigrants
NHS
Economy
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Education/Schools
Low pay/fair wages
Top mentions %
MOST/OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES
MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE

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
NHS UNEMPLOYMENT
CRIME/LAW &
ORDER ECONOMY IMMIGRATION*
*Up until September 2014 the code was race relations/immigration/immigrants

5. 5
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
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
(25%)
Northern Rock
nationalised

6. 6
Cameron 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
* Up 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
Border controls relaxed for “A8” EU
Countries
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
Border controls relaxed for
Romanians and Bulgarians
Highest concern
ever recorded (56%)

7. 7
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
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 December
2008 (16%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index

8. 8
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 day riots Riots in
England
9/11
Lowest score since Oct
1992 (9%)

9. 9
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
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

10. 10
Cameron 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
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

11. 11
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
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
ISIS
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

12. 12
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
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

13. 13
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
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

14. 14
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
A8 Countries
join the EU
House prices
rising at fastest
rate in 10 years
Highest score since
October 1974 (20%)
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

15. 15
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
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

16. 16
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
Wettest Autumn since
records began –
widespread flooding
across the UK
EC proposes carbon emission
cuts of 20% by 2020
Flooding in
England
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

17. 17
Cameron 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
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
Treaty of Accession: 10 new
EU Member States
France and Holland reject
ratification of EU constitution
Lowest score
recorded (1%)
UKIP come first in Euro
elections
Base: representative sample of c.1,000 British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home
EU Referendum bill:
Highest score since June
2005 (13%)

18. 18
Top issues – concern by party support
Base: 192 Conservative and 308 Labour supporters aged 18+, 4th – 17th September 2015
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
65%
38%
37%
17%
14%
8%
13%
23%
11%
7%
47%
35%
27%
24%
26%
21%
16%
8%
14%
17%
Immigration/immigrants
NHS
Economy
Housing
Unemployment
Poverty/Inequality
Crime/Law and Order/ASB
Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism
Education/Schools
Low pay/fair wages
Top mentions %
CONSERVATIVE
SUPPORTERS
LABOUR
SUPPORTERS

19. 19
“Too many immigrants” the main driver of immigration
concern, more so than helping refugees
Base: 506 GB adults aged 18+ who said that immigration is one of the biggest issues facing Britain
Which of the following statements, if any, best describes why you said [immigration] was an important issue?
Source: Ipsos MORI
49%
5%
27%
19%
“There are too many immigrants coming
to Britain – we need to reduce immigrant
numbers”
“I’m worried about the refugee crisis and
want Britain to do more to help”
Both
Neither
54%
45%
53%
34%
41%
58%
Male
Female
Conservative
Labour
ABC1
C2DE
Agreement by key group:
13%
24%
16%
25%
25%
13%
Male
Female
Conservative
Labour
ABC1
C2DE
Agreement by key group:

20. 20
Concern about housing by subgroups
Base: 1,002 British adults 18+, 9th – 19th October 2015
N.B. Boxed figures are significantly different to the average
What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? Housing
Ipsos MORI Issues Index
20%
18-24
26%
25-34
23%
35-44
18%
45-54
21%
55-64
14%
65+
Concern about housing by age:
15%
8%
14%
23%
Concern by
region:
20% 20% 21%
17%
24% 23%
20%
22%
16%
Overall Urban Rural CON LAB AB C1 C2 DE
Social GradeUrbanity Party support
Concern about housing by key demographic groups:
43%