UK’s economic optimism under Keir Starmer reaches a new low point – the same as Gordon Brown in 2008
The September 2025 Ipsos Issues Index reveals that immigration remains the biggest issue facing the country in the eyes of Britons. But people are also increasingly concerned about the economy and where it is heading under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The data from the polling group shows 51% of the public see immigration as a key concern, an increase of three points since August, and the highest score since October 2015 (when it was mentioned by 52%). Fieldwork was carried out 10-16 September 2025, covering the period of the Unite the Kingdom march.
Immigration is particularly likely to be mentioned as an important issue by Reform UK (86%) and Conservative (60%) supporters, those aged 55+ (62%), and people in social grades C2DE (57%).
The other two issues in the top three remain the economy and the NHS. Concern about the economy is relatively unchanged since August, mentioned by 35%, while concern about the NHS has risen by four points, mentioned by 26%.
Inflation and housing remain the fourth- and fifth-biggest issues, mentioned by 19% and 16% respectively. Concern about both remains at a similar level to that recorded in August.
Economic concerns
Ipsos’ Economic Optimism Index asks Britons whether they think the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same, or get worse over the next twelve months, and has been tracking the economic mood of Britons since 1978.
The latest results show 12% think the economy will improve and 72% get worse, giving a net Ipsos Economic Optimism Index figure of -60 (the same as last month). 13% think there will be no change in the state of the economy over the next year.
The level of net economic optimism today (fourteen months in to Keir Starmer’s premiership) equals the lowest recorded at this stage in a new Prime Minister’s tenure, similar to that of Gordon Brown in August 2008 (-59).
“As we headed into party conference season, immigration continued to be top of the public agenda, as it has been since May,” said Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK Politics at Ipsos.
“Mentions of immigration as an important issue facing Britain have doubled over the last two years, and it is by some distance the top concern among Reform UK and Conservative voters, and is a particular concern among older and working class Britons too. ”
However, it has also been rising for other groups, including Labour voters for whom it is now almost as important an issue as the NHS itself, Skinner said.
“Britons have other worries as well though, with the economy and the NHS, inflation and housing all continuing to make the top five as they did last month.
“The economy in particular is a real concern, with nearly 3 in 4 Britons still pessimistic about its prospects, considerably worse than the Ipsos long-term average and similar to the situation faced by Gordon Brown 14 months into his premiership in 2008.
“With news about economic growth slowing in Q2, this increases the pressure on Rachel Reeves’ upcoming Budget to demonstrate to voters that improvements are coming.”
