August 2009 Contacts:

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Shanna Simon
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Ipsos MORI Issues Index August 29 Contacts: Jerry.

1 Ipsos MORI Issues Index August 29 Contacts:

2 Issues facing Britain: August 29 What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? What do you see as other important issues facing Britain today? Economy Crime/law and order Unemployment Race relations/immigration Defence/Foreign Affairs/ Terrorism NHS Education/Schools Morality/individual behaviour Inflation/prices Drug Abuse Top mentions % Change since July Base: 978 British adults 18+, 13 th 18th Aug 29

3 % Classifying Unemployment as issue facing Britain Unemployment (thousands) Concern about unemployment vs. unemployment figures Source Ipsos MORI Issues Index Year and ONS Labour force survey Unemployment as issue Unemployment (thousands)

4 Long Term Trends (current top 5) 7 Economy Unemployment Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age Crime/ Law & Order Race/ immigration NHS

5 Economy / Economic situation Global Recession and Russian Financial crisis Highest score since Most important issue for the first time Pound at 15 Year high against dollar Sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 5 billion bank bailout Northern Rock nationalised

6 Economy vs. Unemployment Global Recession and Russian Financial crisis Highest score since Most important issue for the first time Pound at 15- year high Sub-prime against dollar mortgage crisis in the US Northern Rock nationalised Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 5 billion bank bailout

7 Economy vs. Unemployment vs. Inflation/Prices Global Recession and Russian Financial crisis Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 25 Northern Rock nationalised 26 Highest score since Most important issue for the first time Pound at 15- year high against dollar Sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US Economy Inflation rate hits 16 year peak 29 Inflation/ prices Unemployment 5 billion bank bailout

8 Unemployment / Factory closure / Lack of industry New Deal launched, providing training, subsidised employment, and voluntary work to the unemployed Unemployment falls below 1 million for first time in 25 years Minimum wage introduced Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age Lowest ever score for unemployment 27 Highest score since Unemployment in Britain rises to 5.5% 28 29

9 5 Pensions/Benefits/Social security Blair and Harriet Harman propose affluence testing to exclude the well-off from state benefits unveils pension tax credits Pensions commission report more than 12 million working people are not saving enough for their retirement Lords vote to increase compensation for those whose company pension schemes have collapsed 1 Lowest ever score Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age

10 NHS / Hospitals / Healthcare Blair We have underfunded the NHS for years and we are paying the price for it BBC NHS day Blair tells doctors not enough has been done for the NHS allocates extra 2 billion. Report says waiting lists have doubled under Labour Alan Milburn promises 35, more nurses, 4 new hospitals and development of foundation trusts as part of NHS plan General Election Battle of Margaret s shoulder London Bombs 26 Becomes Hewitt heckled at UNISON conference fears over NHS job cuts Lowest score since December Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

11 Defence / Foreign Affairs / International terrorism War in Kosovo 9/11 Foot and Mouth crisis 2 21 War in Iraq London Bombs General Election - extra 4 million allocated for defence budget 24 Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age Failed terror attacks in London and Glasgow Lowest score since 9/11 as UK withdraws from Iraq

12 Crime / Law & Order / Violence / Vandalism / ASB day riots Blair activates civil contingencies machinery to deal with spiralling street crime Foreign prisoners scandal Charles Clarke is sacked Tory election pledge of 4, more police Becomes Rhys Jones and Gary Newlove murdered 2 1 Fuel Protests / Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age Prison overcrowding reaches record levels 28 29

13 House prices rising at fastest rate in 1 years Housing 2 9/11 21 A8 Countries join the EU Election Blair promises to make families 8 better off and help first time buyers Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 26 Becomes 27 HIPS fiasco, Houses to cost ten times salary 28 29

14 Race Relations / Immigration / Immigrants Sangatte detention centre constantly in the news throughout 22. Race riots in Burnley, Oldham, and Bradford The Met publishes its first Race Equality Scheme under the terms of the legislative response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. 9/11 Anthony Walker murdered in Liverpool Foreign prisoners furore Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age

15 5 4 3 Education / Schools Introduction of means-tested tuition fees Labour s second term - pledge to improve failing secondary schools City academies introduced to combat entrenched failure in some urban schools Education and Inspections Bill limits the power of LAs to open new schools Fuel Protests Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age London Bombs 25 Lowest score since Dec

16 4 3 2 Common Market / Europe / Euro / EU Amsterdam Treaty signed increases EU remit G8 commitment to globalisation in Cologne Treaty of accession 1 new member states UK starts 6 month EU Presidency, France and Holland reject ratification of constitution / Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age Lowest score since

17 Transport / Public Transport Paddington Rail crash Fuel Protests or approves London congestion charge Potters Bar Rail Crash Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 18+ each month, interviewed face-to-face in home

18 2 15 Pollution / Environment Wettest Autumn since records began widespread flooding across the UK s Vote Blue, go Green campaign at 26 local elections EC proposes carbon emission cuts of 2% by 22 1 Buncefield Oil Depot fire toxic cloud reaches northern Spain Stern report 5 Hurricane in Kensal Rise 9/11 London Bombs Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age

19 Taxation 2 21 Nationwide protests over fuel duty 22 9/ Base: representative sample of c.1, British adults age 25 Protests and claims that council tax has risen by up to 7% since 26 Tories announce plans to abolish inheritance tax Removal of 1p starting rate of income tax

How have perceptions of the NHS changed over time?

How have perceptions of the NHS changed over time? Dan Wellings, Research Director @danwellings Most important issues facing Britain What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?