Prices and NHS were key issues at local elections

THE COST of living, NHS and crime and policing were among the most important factors when people were considering how to vote in the local elections yesterday, polling suggested.

Almost three in five people (57 per cent) said the cost of living would be a “very important” issue to them at the ballot box, when asked by pollsters Ipsos Mori.

The health service ranked second, with 45 per cent saying it was very important, while 34 per cent of respondents said the same about crime and policing.

Around a quarter of the 2,045 people questioned (24 per cent) said they thought the war in Ukraine was very important and a similar number (25 per cent) said the same about the Covid pandemic.

Fewer than one in five (19 per cent) described Brexit or Britain’s future relationship with the EU as very important.

However, of all the issues mentioned, traffic congestion ranked as the least important, with only 16 per cent of respondents telling the pollsters they thought it was.

Kelly Beaver, chief executive at Ipsos, said both local and wider issues were on people’s minds before they voted.

She said: “A mix of national and local factors will be occupying voters’ minds as they head into the booths for the local elections.

“Given that concern about inflation and prices is at the highest Ipsos has recorded for decades, it is little surprise to see the cost-of-living crisis impact the local picture as much as the national.

“Looking to the results, the public is pretty clear they expect Labour to do better than the Conservatives, reflecting the small lead Labour has in the national polls.”