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Unemployment, not corruption, is the new worry
The economy was already the most important issue in the marginal seats last year, but the effect of the recession is evident in the other issues people say are facing the country. Unemployment barely figured as an issue in 2008, but it is now the fourth most important issue concerning voters. Also increasing in importance are defence and the health service. In the wake of the expenses scandal the proportion of people mentioning political corruption and sleaze as an important issue doubled… but only to 8%. It is still seen as a comparatively unimportant issue when placed alongside things like the economy and public services.
Moving in the other direction, far fewer respondents said they were concerned about law and order, although it was still the third most mentioned issue. Inflation has unsurprisingly plummeted in importance, less expected is that taxation has also dropped down the public’s agenda.
There was a similar pattern when voters were asked about issues in their local area – unemployment is now the second most important issue after crime and anti-social behaviour, when it hardly registered last year.
SKIP TO:
Introduction --- Prediction Summary --- The new political landscape --- Tactical Voting and the Personal Vote --- The Deciding Factors --- The Key Issues --- Sleaze --- Campaigning --- Changing Opinions --- Methodology --- View 2008 report
REGIONAL BREAKDOWNS:
Inner London --- Outer London --- London's Commuter Belt --- Seaside Towns --- Labour's Southern Bastions --- Urban West Midlands --- West Midlands hinterland --- East Midlands --- West Yorkshire --- North West --- North East England --- Cumbria --- Conservatives vs Lib Dems: South West --- Conservatives vs Lib Dems: Elsewhere --- Labour vs Lib Dems --- Welsh Marginals --- Scottish Marginals
