Health Increases in Salience as Young Prioritise Environment

YouGov have updated their issues tracker with the latest data, taken from fieldwork on the 9th of January. British voters continue to put the economy and health at the top of their agenda. With 66% responding that the economy was one of their top issues, and 60% saying health. Considering media attention on the current state of healthcare, it's unsurprising that this figure represented a 10% increase on the previous poll, taken on the 1st of January.

Immigration is the next highest issue on the British public's agenda (31%), followed by the environment (23%). Brexit and housing were the next two on the list, with 17% and 14% respectively.

There is a stark positive correlation between age and the responded importance of immigration. It's the 11th most important issue facing 18-24 year-olds – for all those over 50, it's third. This trend is reflected in the importance of immigration by party support, which is in keeping with observations that age is increasing as a determinant of political competition.

Likewise, the environment and housing come in at third and fourth amongst young voters. Where the environment does retain relative significance irrespective of age (it comes in joint fourth for over-65s) housing becomes far less significant for those over 50. This might suggest that the Conservatives can afford to be be lukewarm on home building, especially if they're keeping one eye on their base - assuming the party is content to concede the vote of young voters. Either way, environmental matters will be more difficult for either party to ignore.

Irrespective of age, the economy and health are the predominant issues in Britain. Getting it right will be crucial in any future electoral contest, and right now Keir Starmer is outperforming the Conservatives on both. The NHS is Labour's most trusted domain, whilst the party has made major in-roads into the Conservatives' lead on the economy - to the extent it is now seeing leads of its own. Four of Rishi's five pledges come under these topics, and the fifth is on immigration, so the party has now at least got its priorities in order.