Britain's top priority for PM

FIXING the crisis-hit NHS should be the immediate top priority for Sir Keir Starmer if he becomes Prime Minister, a new poll reveals.

- Nicholas Cecil 

The Ipsos survey for the Evening Standard found 63 per cent of adults named improving the health service as one of the three or four issues a Labour government, if elected, should focus on in the first six months. 

This is far ahead of dealing with the cost of living, in second place and cited by 44 per cent. The findings were published the day after the damning report into the infected blood scandal, with NHS waiting lists still at around 7.5 million, and patients often having to wait hours in accident and emergency departments.

The poll showed around a third of adults stating growing the economy (32 per cent) as an immediate priority, improving education and skills (31 per cent), and managing asylum and immigration (30 per cent). Twenty-two per cent named dealing with climate change/investing in green energy, the same level as dealing with crime on 21 per cent, a key issue of concern for voters.

With Vladimir Putin's Ukraine war and the threat from China, 19 per cent said defence and national security.

Building more homes scored 17 per cent, as did controlling public spending to cut taxes, tackling inequality was on 15 per cent, giving workers stronger rights and protections 12 per cent, transport nine per cent, as was international affairs and foreign relations.