The economy still dominates
Cost of living and the economy are the issues that worry the public the most. UK Business Leaders, and those who earn more than the median income, are more focused on the wider economy, while the cost of living dominates for everyone else.
Spend on groceries has been ticking-up over time, but there are deals to be had. Pricing and promotion data shows that Tesco has significantly increased its number of online promotions over the past year.
International affairs & conflict, which rose to prominence in March (up 10 points to 20%), has since declined to 14% as news coverage has stabilised. However, comments still reflect deep concerns about U.S. foreign and economic policy, and public attention may rise again in response to recent developments such as Starmer’s call to make Britain ‘battle-ready’.
Labour incompetence?
Incompetence is the main criticism levelled at Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and the Labour Party overall.
Labour is just about managing to hold onto the top spot when it comes to voting intent at an overall level – regaining a slight lead over Reform (27% to 24%), but it is still too close to call given the margin of error.
The party retains strong support among those with a university education or above median income, but support among UK Business Leaders is eroding, while dissatisfaction with both the PM and Chancellor is on the rise – changes to National Insurance will now be having a material impact.
Support for NATO
There is strong support for the role NATO plays in maintaining peace and security from all parts of society, and while there is uncertainty about US foreign policy, most people think closer military ties with the EU are a good idea – even a narrow majority of Reform voters.
Split on Trump style executive orders
When it comes to the flashpoint issue of trans athletes participating in women’s sports, a majority of the public believes they should be excluded.
Opinions are more mixed on other issues, though there are clear divides by voting intention. Labour voters are significantly more likely to oppose ending DEI initiatives or banning TikTok, while Reform voters are more likely to support banning trans athletes and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Bullish about skills, despite AI
There is broad agreement that the tech, finance and customer service sectors will be the most impacted by AI, but few think their own sector has been affected much yet.
Furthermore, most people, both the public and UK Business Leaders, are bullish that their current skills will still be relevant in 5 years.
Public Pulse monitors UK opinion on the critical topics that affect market conditions and consumer behaviour.
