UK Party Comparison: 6 Parties vs 8 Key Issues
Which party do voters trust on the NHS, economy, immigration and more? Side-by-side polling data for every major party.
Issue Trust Table: All Parties vs 8 Key Issues
May 2026 composite pollsPolling question: “Which party do you trust most to handle [issue]?” Composite of YouGov, Ipsos and Survation, April–May 2026. GB-wide. Bold = polling leader on that issue.
| Issue | Labour | Conservatives | Reform UK | Lib Dems | Greens | SNP | None/DK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS & Health | 41% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 9% | 2% | 9% |
| Economy & Growth | 28% | 25% | 22% | 9% | 3% | 1% | 12% |
| Immigration | 22% | 16% | 38% | 8% | 4% | 1% | 11% |
| Housing & Planning | 29% | 18% | 16% | 20% | 11% | 1% | 5% |
| Cost of Living | 30% | 17% | 21% | 13% | 10% | 1% | 8% |
| Climate & Energy | 22% | 12% | 6% | 22% | 34% | 2% | 2% |
| Defence & Security | 24% | 29% | 25% | 10% | 4% | 1% | 7% |
| Education & Skills | 35% | 16% | 13% | 16% | 11% | 2% | 7% |
Source: YouGov, Ipsos, Survation composite. April–May 2026. GB-wide.
Radar Chart: Party Issue Profiles
Each party shown across all 8 key issues. A larger web indicates broader issue strength. Labour dominates NHS and education, Reform UK owns immigration, the Greens spike on climate.
Issue Leader Summary
- NHS & Health — 41%
- Education & Skills — 35%
- Cost of Living — 30%
- Housing & Planning — 29%
Labour’s dominance on the NHS and education reflects traditional strengths — but economic trust is eroding fast.
- Immigration — 38%
Reform UK owns immigration by a massive margin. On every other issue they are competitive (economy: 22%, defence: 25%) but not dominant — yet. Their single-issue dominance converts directly into VI share.
- Defence & Security — 29%
Defence is the Conservatives’ last clear issue-ownership position. They are competitive on economy (25%) but Reform UK presses hard. Their collapse on NHS and immigration trust is the biggest change since 2019.
- Climate & Energy — 34%
The Greens own climate by a wide margin. On every other issue they score single digits. Their rise to 8% VI is almost entirely climate-concerned, left-of-Labour voters.
- Housing & Planning — 20% (joint)
The Lib Dems lack a single dominant issue. Their VI strength at 14% comes from tactical votes in southern constituencies rather than issue ownership.
Reform UK’s lead over Labour on immigration (38% vs 22%) is the largest single-issue margin of any party in UK polling.
Analysis: What the Issue Map Tells Us
Labour’s Soft Underbelly
Labour’s issue map looks strong on the surface: leading NHS (41%), education (35%), cost of living (30%). But the economy lead is only 3 points over the Conservatives. If that inverts, Labour faces a structural problem. Voters who trust a party on the NHS but not the economy historically split their vote or stay home.
Reform UK’s Monetisation of Immigration
No party in modern British polling has turned single-issue dominance into a 26% VI rating as efficiently as Reform UK. Their 38% on immigration — 16 points clear of Labour — converts directly because immigration-primary voters back Reform regardless of their views on the NHS or climate.
Conservatives Without Ownership
The Conservatives’ 2024 collapse left them with one clear issue: defence (29%). They have surrendered immigration to Reform UK, NHS and education to Labour, and climate to the Greens. Defence alone cannot rebuild a winning coalition. Kemi Badenoch must recapture economy trust from both Labour and Reform.
The Green–LD Climate Rivalry
The Greens (34%) and Lib Dems (22%) are fighting for the same climate-concerned voter pool. The Greens win on issue ownership; the Lib Dems win on electability in many constituencies. This rivalry may split the progressive vote in swing seats, ultimately benefiting Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which party do UK voters trust most overall across all issues?
It depends on the issue. Labour leads on NHS (41%), education (35%) and cost of living (30%). Reform UK dominates on immigration (38%). The Conservatives lead on defence (29%). The Greens lead on climate (34%). No single party leads across all issues — the 2026 polling landscape is unusually fragmented.
Which issue do voters care about most?
The economy (62% name it a top issue) and immigration (54%) are the top two issues by salience in May 2026 polling. NHS follows at approximately 52%, with cost of living at 47%. Climate and defence have risen significantly since 2023.
How does issue trust translate into voting intention?
Voters who prioritise immigration overwhelmingly back Reform UK — making immigration trust the single most direct pathway from issue ownership to vote share. The most elastic voters are those who prioritise the economy: currently split between Labour, Conservatives and Reform UK.