Public concern about the National Health Service (NHS) has surged to its highest level since the Covid-19 crisis, according to a recent poll.

Nearly half of those surveyed, 47 percent, identify the health service as the most pressing issue, a sentiment not seen since December 2019, just before the pandemic’s onset.

Immigration is also emerging as a critical concern, with 31 percent of respondents citing it as a significant issue, the highest level since January 2017.

This rise in concern coincides with increasing pressure on Keir Starmer from his own backbenchers over various issues, including benefits, Brexit, and Gaza.

Labour MPs have introduced amendments to the King’s Speech, urging the new government to abolish the “cruel” two-child policy limiting benefit payments and to suspend arms sales to Israel.

SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP commented, “Keir Starmer must not fail his first major test in government by refusing to scrap the cap. It is the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty – and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.”

Labour MPs Kim Johnson and Rosie Duffield are among those urging Sir Keir to reconsider his stance. Meanwhile, Conservative Suella Braverman has voiced support for removing the limit.

The Labour MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana has called on the Prime Minister to suspend arms sales to Israel and to end what she described as “Britain’s complicity in the killing” in Palestine.

“Whenever I see the heart-wrenching aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza – a Palestinian mother cradling the lifeless body of her child; a refugee camp engulfed by fire – I ask myself the same question. Were British-made weapons used to inflict this horror?
“Almost certainly, the answer at times is ‘yes’. Raining down hell on Gaza is Israel’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets, described by their manufacturer as the ‘most lethal fighter jet in the world.’ Each jet is made, in part, in Britain, in a deal the Campaign Against the Arms Trade estimates to be worth £368m.”
Zarah Sultana

Highlighting the ongoing conflict, she added, “This is just one example of Israel’s use of British-made arms in its assault on Gaza. But after almost 10 months and 38,000 Palestinians killed, to their eternal shame the Conservatives left office refusing to suspend arms sales. This responsibility now falls to Labour.”

Calls For Brexit Effects Mitigation

New Labour MPs have also joined forces with opposition parliamentarians to increase pressure on Sir Keir to mitigate the adverse effects of Brexit.

This push came as the new Prime Minister made his first statement to the Commons since taking office, reporting on the NATO summit in Washington DC and the European Political Community (EPC) meeting held at Blenheim Palace.

During his address, Sir Keir reiterated his commitment to renegotiate the UK’s deal with the European Union and to forge a new security pact. However, it was apparent that many within his party were urging him to take more decisive action.

The July 2024 Issues Index by Ipsos, conducted immediately after the general election, indicates a significant decline in public concern about inflation, which has dropped eight points from last month to its lowest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over two years ago.

Despite this, the economy and immigration remain the second and third most important issues, with 34 percent and 31 percent of respondents identifying them as major concerns, respectively.

Conservative supporters are notably more concerned about immigration compared to Labour supporters, with 47 percent versus 18 percent. Housing continues to be a prominent issue, mentioned by 18 percent of those surveyed.

“Public concern about the health service tends to spike at elections, and 2024 is no exception. This was also reflected in our pre-election polling which identified the NHS as the most likely issue to influence how people would vote.”
Mike Clemence

He added that despite some significant shifts, especially a decline in concern about inflation, it is the NHS, the economy, immigration, and housing that will be top of mind as the new Labour government sets out its priorities.