Four in ten Britons say cutting NHS waiting times should be new government’s main focus
Last weekend, amid internal divisions in Labour over winter fuel payments, a ‘senior government source’ defended the government’s stance by saying that “we were elected first and foremost to sort out the public finances”.
In their election manifesto, Labour outlined six ‘first steps for change’, which they intended to represent the main priorities of the new government and build towards their five longer-term ‘national missions’. We asked the public to tell us which of these six steps should be the government’s top priority.
Only one in eight Britons (13%) agree that economic stability with tough spending rules should be the main priority of the new government. Instead, the public tend to view cutting NHS waiting times as what Labour were elected first and foremost to sort out, with four in ten (39%) saying it should be prioritised over the other ‘first steps’.
Also more of a priority for Britons than spending rules is launching a new Border Security Command, with one in six (18%) wanting this to be the top focus of Starmer’s government’s energies. One in eleven (9%) would rather prioritise setting up Great British Energy, while 7% have tackling antisocial behaviour as their ‘first step’ of choice.
Recruiting new teachers is viewed as the least important of the six first steps, with only 2% saying it should be the first and foremost priority, though that is not to say it is necessarily an unpopular policy in and of itself.
Among those who actually voted for a Labour government, the NHS stands out even further, with half of Labour voters (50%) believing it should be the government’s first and foremost priority, clearly ahead of the one in seven (15%) who feel spending rules would be the prime focus.
Lib Dem voters are most likely to feel that Rachel Reeves’ goal should be placed above all others, with a quarter (26%) feeling spending rules should be the government’s top priority, but four in ten (41%) still favour cutting NHS waiting times.
Half of Reform UK voters (52%), however, instead believe that launching a new Border Security Command should be the government’s main concern, with only one in five (20%) opting for the NHS. Conservatives are most divided, three in ten (31%) wanting NHS waiting times to be prioritised, 27% preferring immigration to be the focus and one in six (17%) feeling government finances should be sorted out first.
What do you think should be the government’s main priorities? Have your say, join the YouGov panel, and get paid to share your thoughts. Sign up here.
Photo: Getty
