Londoners are most likely to say housing, crime and the economy are the most urgent issues in the capital, although views vary between inner and outer London
Londoners are heading to the ballot boxes today to elect or re-elect the next mayor. YouGov data shows that two in five people point to housing (44%) and crime (43%) as the most urgent problems to be tackled, while just over a third (36%) say it’s the economy. These issues are followed by health (32%), the environment (24%) and transport (18%).
These issues largely match the main candidates’ pledges, with current mayor Sadiq Khan promising to build more council homes, crack down on crime and lower the cost of commuting. His opponent, Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey, also promises to make the streets safer, improve transport and to sell 100,000 homes for £100,000 each.
Generally, Londoners have different opinions on what the most pressing issues facing the capital and the country are. Around half say the economy (49%) and health (48%) are top of the list for the country as a whole, which is much higher than when asked about London. And while a quarter (26%) say Britain leaving the EU is among the most urgent issues for the UK, only 16% say it’s the most vital thing to sort out for London.
People in inner London care about housing, while those in outer London worry about crime
Age and location play a big factor in which issues are seen as the most important. People in inner London feel more strongly about housing than those in outer London at 50% vs 41%. But approaching half of people in the suburbs (46%) believe crime is among the biggest threats to the capital, compared with just over a third of those living more centrally (36%).
The same split is clear across generations, with half of Londoners aged 65+ (52%) worrying about crime, compared with a third of 18- to 24-year-olds (35%). In contrast, two in five older capital dwellers (39%) say the economy is the most prominent issue facing London, while only a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds in the city share the same worry. And while a quarter of those aged 65+ (23%) list immigration and asylum as one of the top issues, only 3% of young people do the same.
