The People’s Priorities 2023

In a new poll for Policy Exchange, we asked the public what the Government must deliver in 2023. The full tables are available here.

Selected media coverage

The Telegraph: HS2 is the public’s top priority to save taxpayers’ money
Daily Mail: More than half of Tory voters want Rishi Sunak’s government to make Channel boat crisis its 2023 priority, poll shows
Express.co.uk: ‘Back brilliant Britain and we’ll all get stronger in 2023’ says defiant Rishi Sunak
The Sun: 2023 is crucial if Rishi Sunak wants to make the Tories electable again

On the list below, select the top issues you believe are most important for the government to prioritise in 2023. (Please select up to three)

	Unweighted	Weighted	Reduce NHS waiting lists	Reduce immigration by stopping the small boats crossing the Channel	Make it more difficult for workers to strike	Introduce tougher measures for environmental protesters who cause disruption	Bring down inflation to stop the price of household goods rising	Reduce people’s taxes to help with the cost of living	Build more self-sufficient energy infrastructure, such as wind, solar, and nuclear	Make the streets safer by cutting crime	Introduce a new ban on gay and transgender conversion therapy	Support Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s invasion	Improve trains and buses	Revitalise town centres and high streets	Make it easier for first time buyers to afford a house	Prefer not to say
Overall
National	1431	1431	48%	28%	5%	8%	48%	26%	38%	13%	7%	10%	9%	6%	12%	4%
Gender
Female	742	732	50%	25%	5%	6%	50%	28%	37%	12%	5%	7%	9%	7%	13%	4%
Male	689	699	46%	32%	6%	10%	45%	24%	39%	15%	8%	13%	9%	4%	10%	3%
Age
18-24	102	152	41%	8%	3%	4%	42%	31%	29%	7%	14%	10%	14%	5%	20%	10%
25-49	634	590	44%	17%	4%	6%	55%	32%	40%	14%	8%	8%	9%	5%	15%	5%
50-64	382	351	53%	37%	6%	8%	44%	27%	37%	14%	5%	10%	8%	7%	8%	2%
65+	313	338	55%	49%	9%	13%	42%	12%	39%	15%	3%	14%	6%	5%	7%	1%
SEG
AB	326	342	48%	19%	6%	5%	49%	22%	43%	11%	7%	10%	11%	4%	14%	5%
C1	440	437	49%	27%	6%	7%	54%	25%	39%	13%	8%	10%	10%	4%	12%	2%
C2	304	297	51%	38%	5%	11%	41%	26%	34%	18%	3%	9%	7%	7%	8%	5%
DE	361	355	45%	30%	4%	9%	44%	30%	34%	12%	6%	11%	7%	8%	12%	4%
Region
London	175	202	50%	23%	5%	7%	52%	22%	42%	16%	5%	11%	11%	3%	13%	4%
Midlands/Wales	434	384	49%	33%	6%	9%	44%	27%	38%	13%	4%	11%	7%	5%	10%	4%
North	356	389	49%	25%	3%	5%	53%	27%	37%	14%	12%	8%	9%	3%	11%	4%
Rest of South	347	333	44%	33%	9%	10%	43%	25%	39%	12%	6%	11%	9%	6%	13%	4%
Scotland	119	123	53%	22%	3%	10%	48%	26%	28%	10%	4%	12%	13%	17%	12%	3%
2019 General Election
Conservative Party	425	420	44%	53%	11%	14%	43%	20%	36%	16%	5%	11%	5%	4%	7%	1%
Labour Party	316	318	55%	7%	0%	3%	54%	25%	49%	11%	9%	9%	16%	6%	15%	3%
Liberal Democrats	117	117	53%	11%	3%	6%	52%	18%	52%	13%	4%	23%	9%	6%	9%	–
2016 Brexit referendum
Leave	537	531	44%	51%	8%	12%	46%	24%	34%	15%	4%	11%	4%	4%	8%	3%
Remain	516	529	57%	11%	4%	5%	50%	23%	46%	11%	9%	13%	14%	7%	12%	2%

On the list below, are there any that you strongly disagree with and think the government should definitely not do? (Please select up to three)

	Unweighted	Weighted	Reduce NHS waiting lists	Reduce immigration by stopping the small boats crossing the Channel	Make it more difficult for workers to strike	Introduce tougher measures for environmental protesters who cause disruption	Bring down inflation to stop the price of household goods rising	Reduce people’s taxes to help with the cost of living	Build more self-sufficient energy infrastructure, such as wind, solar, and nuclear	Make the streets safer by cutting crime	Introduce a new ban on gay and transgender conversion therapy	Support Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s invasion	Improve trains and buses	Revitalise town centres and high streets	Make it easier for first time buyers to afford a house	Prefer not to say
Overall
National	1431	1431	5%	20%	36%	24%	6%	11%	6%	3%	23%	11%	4%	5%	7%	7%
Gender
Female	742	732	5%	21%	35%	22%	6%	8%	4%	2%	22%	9%	3%	4%	7%	9%
Male	689	699	5%	18%	38%	26%	7%	14%	7%	3%	23%	13%	5%	6%	8%	5%
Age
18-24	102	152	4%	27%	41%	34%	4%	10%	4%	3%	18%	9%	1%	9%	9%	17%
25-49	634	590	4%	22%	41%	25%	5%	8%	5%	2%	23%	10%	3%	3%	6%	8%
50-64	382	351	7%	16%	34%	21%	8%	13%	7%	4%	25%	15%	6%	5%	11%	5%
65+	313	338	7%	16%	29%	21%	7%	14%	6%	2%	22%	8%	5%	6%	7%	5%
SEG
AB	326	342	4%	27%	45%	32%	6%	9%	2%	2%	21%	8%	4%	4%	6%	6%
C1	440	437	4%	20%	39%	24%	3%	10%	6%	2%	24%	9%	5%	3%	7%	8%
C2	304	297	7%	14%	32%	22%	6%	9%	4%	4%	22%	12%	5%	6%	7%	10%
DE	361	355	8%	16%	28%	19%	11%	15%	9%	3%	23%	14%	3%	9%	9%	6%
Region
London	175	202	3%	22%	41%	30%	6%	4%	6%	2%	24%	12%	3%	5%	7%	7%
Midlands/Wales	434	384	5%	16%	33%	21%	6%	11%	6%	4%	21%	12%	5%	5%	7%	9%
North	356	389	7%	21%	41%	26%	8%	14%	6%	2%	23%	8%	4%	6%	7%	6%
Rest of South	347	333	5%	19%	31%	21%	4%	10%	4%	3%	23%	11%	5%	5%	11%	7%
Scotland	119	123	7%	25%	37%	26%	10%	15%	7%	3%	23%	14%	1%	2%	4%	8%
2019 General Election
Conservative Party	425	420	5%	11%	22%	11%	5%	10%	7%	3%	23%	12%	6%	5%	9%	6%
Labour Party	316	318	4%	33%	61%	41%	4%	10%	3%	2%	25%	8%	3%	6%	6%	4%
Liberal Democrats	117	117	5%	21%	48%	34%	6%	11%	4%	1%	20%	5%	4%	4%	7%	2%
2016 Brexit referendum
Leave	537	531	6%	11%	24%	12%	6%	11%	7%	2%	21%	13%	5%	6%	11%	7%
Remain	516	529	4%	28%	53%	39%	5%	12%	4%	2%	23%	8%	4%	5%	5%	5%

On the list below, what is the one issue that is most important and the one issue that is least important for the government to prioritise in 2023? Answer: Most important

	Unweighted	Weighted	Reduce NHS waiting lists	Reduce immigration by stopping the small boats crossing the Channel	Make it more difficult for workers to strike	Introduce tougher measures for environmental protesters who cause disruption	Bring down inflation to stop the price of household goods rising	Reduce people’s taxes to help with the cost of living	Build more self-sufficient energy infrastructure, such as wind, solar, and nuclear	Make the streets safer by cutting crime	Introduce a new ban on gay and transgender conversion therapy	Support Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s invasion	Improve trains and buses	Revitalise town centres and high streets	Make it easier for first time buyers to afford a house	Prefer not to say	Total
Overall
National	1431	1431	15%	12%	3%	2%	26%	12%	15%	2%	3%	3%	1%	1%	3%	1%	100%
Gender
Female	742	732	17%	11%	4%	1%	30%	12%	13%	1%	3%	2%	2%	1%	3%	2%	100%
Male	689	699	14%	14%	2%	2%	22%	11%	18%	3%	4%	3%	1%	1%	3%	1%	100%
Age
18-24	102	152	10%	5%	2%	1%	32%	12%	17%	1%	5%	2%	3%	1%	7%	3%	100%
25-49	634	590	11%	6%	3%	2%	32%	16%	17%	2%	3%	2%	1%	1%	3%	1%	100%
50-64	382	351	17%	20%	3%	1%	20%	11%	14%	2%	5%	3%	1%	1%	2%	0%	100%
65+	313	338	23%	20%	2%	3%	20%	6%	12%	4%	2%	3%	1%	1%	2%	1%	100%
SEG
AB	326	342	13%	7%	3%	2%	27%	9%	21%	2%	3%	2%	2%	2%	3%	2%	100%
C1	440	437	15%	12%	3%	1%	28%	13%	14%	2%	4%	3%	0%	0%	4%	1%	100%
C2	304	297	20%	16%	2%	2%	20%	13%	13%	3%	3%	4%	2%	0%	1%	1%	100%
DE	361	355	14%	15%	3%	2%	29%	12%	14%	2%	3%	2%	1%	1%	3%	1%	100%
Region
London	175	202	14%	12%	2%	–	26%	12%	17%	3%	6%	2%	2%	1%	2%	2%	100%
Midlands/Wales	434	384	15%	16%	3%	2%	25%	14%	12%	2%	3%	3%	1%	1%	3%	2%	100%
North	356	389	17%	11%	3%	2%	25%	11%	17%	3%	3%	3%	1%	1%	2%	1%	100%
Rest of South	347	333	13%	12%	3%	3%	26%	13%	15%	2%	3%	3%	1%	1%	4%	1%	100%
Scotland	119	123	18%	12%	2%	–	36%	6%	16%	2%	2%	2%	–	1%	4%	1%	100%
2019 General Election
Conservative Party	425	420	13%	24%	3%	3%	24%	8%	11%	2%	3%	3%	1%	2%	3%	1%	100%
Labour Party	316	318	22%	2%	2%	0%	30%	13%	17%	3%	4%	1%	1%	0%	3%	1%	100%
Liberal Democrats	117	117	18%	3%	3%	1%	28%	8%	20%	2%	3%	8%	1%	1%	3%	1%	100%
2016 Brexit referendum
Leave	537	531	14%	23%	3%	2%	24%	9%	11%	3%	3%	3%	1%	1%	2%	1%	100%
Remain	516	529	20%	3%	3%	1%	28%	12%	20%	2%	3%	3%	1%	1%	2%	1%	100%

On the list below, what is the one issue that is most important and the one issue that is least important for the government to prioritise in 2023? Answer: Least important

	Unweighted	Weighted	Reduce NHS waiting lists	Reduce immigration by stopping the small boats crossing the Channel	Make it more difficult for workers to strike	Introduce tougher measures for environmental protesters who cause disruption	Bring down inflation to stop the price of household goods rising	Reduce people’s taxes to help with the cost of living	Build more self-sufficient energy infrastructure, such as wind, solar, and nuclear	Make the streets safer by cutting crime	Introduce a new ban on gay and transgender conversion therapy	Support Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s invasion	Improve trains and buses	Revitalise town centres and high streets	Make it easier for first time buyers to afford a house	Prefer not to say	Total
Overall
National	1431	1431	2%	7%	17%	10%	3%	3%	4%	1%	23%	8%	5%	6%	6%	6%	100%
Gender
Female	742	732	2%	8%	16%	10%	2%	3%	6%	1%	22%	8%	4%	5%	4%	8%	100%
Male	689	699	2%	6%	18%	10%	3%	4%	2%	1%	23%	8%	6%	6%	7%	5%	100%
Age
18-24	102	152	2%	10%	20%	7%	–	3%	5%	3%	20%	9%	3%	9%	1%	8%	100%
25-49	634	590	1%	9%	19%	12%	3%	2%	3%	1%	20%	8%	5%	5%	5%	7%	100%
50-64	382	351	3%	5%	15%	8%	4%	2%	6%	1%	24%	9%	5%	4%	7%	7%	100%
65+	313	338	3%	5%	12%	10%	2%	6%	4%	0%	26%	7%	6%	7%	7%	5%	100%
SEG
AB	326	342	2%	8%	17%	12%	2%	4%	4%	2%	18%	8%	5%	4%	6%	6%	100%
C1	440	437	2%	8%	19%	10%	3%	2%	4%	0%	23%	7%	4%	7%	6%	5%	100%
C2	304	297	1%	7%	15%	11%	2%	3%	3%	1%	27%	7%	6%	4%	5%	8%	100%
DE	361	355	3%	5%	15%	8%	2%	5%	5%	1%	22%	11%	6%	6%	5%	7%	100%
Region
London	175	202	4%	8%	17%	14%	4%	3%	4%	–	18%	9%	4%	4%	6%	5%	100%
Midlands/Wales	434	384	3%	5%	17%	10%	2%	2%	5%	1%	22%	8%	7%	6%	6%	5%	100%
North	356	389	1%	8%	18%	11%	3%	4%	4%	0%	23%	5%	5%	5%	4%	9%	100%
Rest of South	347	333	2%	7%	15%	9%	1%	4%	3%	2%	24%	9%	4%	7%	6%	7%	100%
Scotland	119	123	–	8%	18%	8%	3%	2%	2%	1%	26%	10%	5%	4%	7%	5%	100%
2019 General Election
Conservative Party	425	420	3%	4%	10%	5%	4%	3%	5%	1%	25%	10%	7%	7%	10%	5%	100%
Labour Party	316	318	1%	12%	26%	16%	2%	2%	5%	1%	18%	6%	2%	3%	3%	4%	100%
Liberal Democrats	117	117	3%	10%	20%	16%	3%	6%	1%	2%	20%	3%	5%	6%	4%	2%	100%
2016 Brexit referendum
Leave	537	531	2%	4%	11%	6%	3%	3%	5%	0%	26%	10%	8%	7%	8%	6%	100%
Remain	516	529	2%	11%	22%	16%	2%	4%	4%	1%	19%	5%	3%	4%	4%	5%	100%

Recent economic forecasts suggest the government in Britain is spending more money than it raises each year from taxation. Where should the government make savings? (Please select up to three)

	Unweighted	Weighted	Reduce public spending on the National Health Service and social care	Reduce public spending on schools	Reduce public spending on science and research	Reduce public spending on international aid	Reduce public spending on ‘equality and diversity’ initiatives in the public sector	Restrict pensions to rise in line with average earnings instead of inflation	Reduce public spending on social benefits such as Universal Credit	Reduce public spending on the police	Reduce public spending on prisons	Restrict pay rises in the public sector	Reduce the defence budget	Cancel the High Speed 2 rail project	None of the above	Prefer not to say
Overall
National	1431	1431	1%	2%	3%	46%	31%	6%	13%	2%	12%	8%	15%	46%	9%	9%
Gender
Female	742	732	1%	1%	3%	41%	25%	4%	11%	3%	13%	9%	14%	43%	10%	11%
Male	689	699	1%	2%	3%	51%	37%	7%	14%	2%	11%	8%	16%	49%	8%	6%
Age
18-24	102	152	1%	4%	4%	24%	16%	7%	13%	8%	13%	7%	25%	26%	16%	14%
25-49	634	590	1%	1%	3%	37%	19%	8%	14%	3%	14%	7%	18%	40%	10%	11%
50-64	382	351	1%	1%	4%	54%	37%	3%	12%	1%	10%	10%	14%	51%	6%	7%
65+	313	338	1%	2%	3%	64%	51%	3%	13%	0%	8%	9%	7%	60%	6%	5%
SEG
AB	326	342	1%	–	3%	35%	31%	10%	14%	2%	9%	6%	18%	42%	14%	8%
C1	440	437	1%	1%	3%	47%	35%	6%	15%	3%	12%	9%	18%	48%	7%	6%
C2	304	297	0%	1%	4%	53%	31%	2%	16%	2%	12%