The May 2025 Ipsos Issues Index found immigration rose to become seen as the biggest issue facing the country. Forty-nine per cent of the public see it as a concern, the highest score since June 2016, just before the EU referendum (when it was mentioned by 48%), and an increase of 15 points since April. Almost three in ten (28%) identify it as the single biggest issue facing the country, too.
Fieldwork was conducted between 7 and 13 May, a period covering the success of Reform UK at the English local elections and the announcement of the new Government White Paper on immigration, which may have had an impact on public attention to this issue.
Immigration is particularly likely to be mentioned as an important issue by Reform UK (86%) and Conservative supporters (60%), men (57%), those in social classes C2DE (60%) and the over 65s (61%). Although the scores are lower, it is also the most mentioned issue for people in Scotland (51%) and Londoners (32%).
The increase in concern about immigration is broad-based. For example, between April and May there have been significant jumps in the proportion saying immigration is a concern among Labour supporters (from 11% to 27%), graduates (20% to 33%) and 18-34 year olds (25% to 33%). There has been an even bigger increase among Conservative party supporters, where concern about immigration rose from 28% in April (though this itself was a fall from 45% in March) to 60% in May.
The other two issues in the top three are the NHS and the economy. Concern about the NHS has risen by eight points since April, while worry about the economy has fallen by six – both are now mentioned by around a third, on 34% and 33% respectively. They are followed by inflation (20%) and defence and foreign affairs (18%).
Taxation has entered the top ten biggest issues facing the country, mentioned by 12%, up three points since April and ten points since March 2023. Concern about tax is higher among Reform UK supporters (21%), private sector workers (18%) and 18-34 year olds (17%). Concern about pensions/social security/benefits has also just joined the top 10 issues, also up three points over the month to 11%, and a rise of 8 points since July 2024.
Mike Clemence at Ipsos said:
The May Index shows British public concern about immigration reaching its highest level in almost a decade, far ahead of the NHS and economy. This may be driven in part by fieldwork being carried out over a period covering Reform UK’s recent successes at the English Local Elections as well as the publication of the Labour Government’s immigration white paper. As a result, we have seen concern about immigration rise among groups who are traditionally more positive about immigration, as well as those who tend to be more concerned – although there is still a big divide with older people, Conservative and especially Reform UK supporters much more concerned than younger people or Labour supporters.
We will continue to monitor results this month to see if this is a spike in response to focus on the issue, or a sign of a more permanent change in opinion. The Ipsos Issues Index also shows concern about the NHS also rising this month, while lower down in the top ten we see more mentions of taxation and benefits than in recent years.