Suddenly what’s emerging as the key issue facing voters is not one where the Tories or Labour are setting the agenda
January @IpsosMORI Issues Index out & immigration now jt 1st with economy
See pic.twitter.com/OVbmvJitFi
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 28, 2014
In Jan 2013 concern about economy was 30% pts higher than immigration – gap now closed http://t.co/csa4Xt3KDq pic.twitter.com/F8k2SR8dWu
— Bobby Duffy (@BobbyIpsosMORI) January 28, 2014
Women less concerned about immigration than men. See concern levels for different groups in this @IpsosMORI chart pic.twitter.com/V7VG7wpMw9
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 28, 2014
Declining concerns about the economy take away a blue strong-point
In the latest YouGov poll Ed Miliband & Ed Balls sink to new low on who’s trusted to run economy … 24% v Cameron & Osborne on 39%; 15 point lead.
From the omnishambles of Osborne’s March 2012 budget the CON duo been increasing their crediblity on this issue while the Two Eds have been falling back.
That would be great for the blue team except for one thing – the improving economy and positive rhetoric is reducing the importance of the economy as a key issue facing voters.This is seen in the monthly Ipsos-MORI Issues Index which over four decades has established itself as the main guide to to salience.
The charts above show the changes and also the demographic breakdown of which segments are most concerned.
There’s not a lot of comfort for Labour here either which has traditionally been regarded as weaker on this than the Tories. The main beneficiary is, of course, UKIP.
The big unknown in the next fifteen months is whether support for the purples will ease off after this May’s Euro elections or will it be sustained.