Ipsos MORI’s Issues Index 2017 has found that the biggest issues facing Great Britain in 2017, as suggested by the British public, were the NHS (48%) closely followed by Brexit (46%). Both the NHS and Brexit were seen as less of a problem in the 2016 Issues Index (36% and 30% respectively), whilst immigration was seen as the biggest issue that year (40%).
The 2017 Issues Index was conducted monthly with a total of 11,890 British adults who were asked to identify the key issues concerning the country without being prompted. Whilst almost half (48%) of respondents indicated that the NHS was an issue, only 14% said this was the single biggest issue compared to 31% who said that the single biggest issue was Brexit.
Findings also highlighted profiles, or ‘tribes’, of respondents who held particular views. For example, 26% of respondents were labelled as “Brexit worriers”. This group was identified as slightly older than average, more middle class and male than the overall British public and were fixated on Brexit, however, both Leavers and Remainers were represented. A further 21% of respondents were identified as “Public Service worriers”; two-thirds of which were female and the group was strongly middle class and concerned about the NHS, education and Brexit.
The findings from the Issues Index 2017 are perhaps no surprise considering the NHS winter crisis at the end of last year and the fact that nearly two years after the EU referendum, we are still not 100% sure what this means for the country.
The uncertainty of Brexit and the impact it will have has been a topic that we have explored at Enventure Research for a number of clients in recent projects, and are continuing to do so currently and for projects due to take place in the near future. You can read case studies of projects we have delivered for the following clients by clicking on the links below:
• Midlands Engine
• Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
• Marketing Birmingham