14 questions for 2014

We selected 14 issues that represent a mix of infrastructural, legal, political and social changes that could have an impact on our lives in the next 12 months (as well as a few more light hearted ones that quite possibly won’t!).

Using a nationally representative sample of 2,035 British adults aged 18+, we posed a simple question: would Britain be a better or worse place to live in 2014 if these things happen? Some of the key findings include:

• Privatisation of the NHS is overwhelmingly rejected: Three quarters (75%) say the country would be a worse place to live if the NHS was privatised and only 10% say it would be better.
• Anger with the big six energy utilities is such that a majority favour nationalisation: just over half (51%) say this would make the country a better place to live, countered by only 13% who say that it would make it worse.
• Attitudes to immigration continue to harden: almost half (48%) thinks that Britain would be a better place to live in 2014 if immigration was completely banned from any country. However, and reflecting the polarised nature of the debate, a substantial proportion (31%) think it would make the country worse.
• The country is divided on EU membership: 39% think that Britain leaving the EU would make it a better place to live compared to 32% who think it would make it worse. There is a clear divide between young and old, with over half (56%) of those aged 65+ saying it would make the country better compared to just 15% of 18-24 year olds. The results also highlight the internal divisions among Conservative voters - 42% think that it would make the country better vs. 36% who think it would make it worse.
• It is united, however, in its desire to keep the Pound: 73% say that adopting the Euro and losing the Pound would make the country a worse place to live; only 7% say it would be better.
• There is more support for HS2 than recent headlines might suggest, but opinion remains divided: close to one in three (32%) say HS2 would make the country better; one in four (25%) say it would make it worse; while 43% don’t have a view or think it would make no difference. Understanding regional variations is critical, with the South East and North West most positive, London divided and other regions ambivalent.
• A single rate of tax at 30% of earnings receives short shrift: over half (57%) say the country would be a worse place to live in 2014 while only 16% think it would be better.
• Labour has its work cut out: less than one in three (29%) say that a surprise election in 2014 leading to a Labour victory would make Britain a better place to live, compared to 38% who think it would make it worse. Reflecting the scale of the challenge that Labour faces in the South East, half (50%) think a Labour victory would make the country a worse place to live.
• The Christmas marketing blitz should start later: Half of the country (50%) say that the country would be better if shops and town centres could only start advertising Christmas in December, whereas only a small proportion (of presumably early bargain hunters) say it would be worse.

Phil Downing, Research Director, comments “The survey reveals broad agreement among the public on several issues, notably their antipathy towards the energy utilities and their defence of the NHS. However, the country is divided on issues such as HS2, immigration and EU membership, with views often dividing more by age than by traditional political party allegiances”.

The survey was conducted on ICM’s online omnibus with sample of 2,035 GB adults aged 18+. The sample is representative of GB adults aged 18+. Fieldwork took place Friday 15th – Sunday 17th November 2013.