UK Policy Polling 2026
Public opinion on the ten biggest policy battlegrounds. Which party leads on immigration, NHS, housing, tax and more?
Policy polling measures not just how people vote, but what they want. These trackers map specific policy proposals — from immigration caps to NHS charges — against party positions, revealing where parties are in step with public opinion and where they are exposed.
Policy Areas
10 trackers — May 2026Cap on net migration (61% support), Rwanda scheme (38% support), points-based system (71% keep). Reform UK leads on this issue.
More funding (78% support), dedicated NHS tax (58%), GP charges (24% support). 81% say government failing on waiting lists.
Build 1.5m homes (52% support), renters reform (64% support), green belt building (34% support). Labour leads narrowly.
Higher taxes on wealthy (72% support), council tax reform (58% want change), NI rise (41% support).
Net zero 2050 (61% support), onshore wind (68% support), petrol car ban 2035 (48% support). Greens and Labour compete.
Growth, inflation and fiscal policy polling. See the full issues tracker.
Issues tracker →School funding, VAT on private schools, teacher pay. See the full issues tracker.
Issues tracker →Knife crime, stop and search, sentencing reform. See the full issues tracker.
Issues tracker →NATO commitment, defence spending, Ukraine support. See the full issues tracker.
Issues tracker →PIP reform, two-child benefit cap, universal credit. See the full issues tracker.
Issues tracker →Which Party Leads on Each Issue?
May 2026 compositeSource: composite of YouGov, Ipsos, Survation, More in Common — May 2026.
| Policy Area | Leading Party | Trust % | 2nd Place | Gap | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS & Health | Labour | 31% | Reform UK 18% | +13pp | Narrowing |
| Education | Labour | 28% | Lib Dems 17% | +11pp | Stable |
| Immigration | Reform UK | 34% | Conservatives 22% | +12pp | Reform rising |
| Economy | Reform UK | 26% | Conservatives 24% | +2pp | Reform edging ahead |
| Housing | Labour | 24% | Lib Dems 19% | +5pp | Labour slipping |
| Climate & Energy | Greens | 29% | Labour 25% | +4pp | Greens rising |
| Crime & Policing | Reform UK | 29% | Conservatives 23% | +6pp | Reform dominant |
| Tax & Fiscal | Lib Dems | 22% | Labour 21% | +1pp | Too close to call |
| Defence | Conservatives | 27% | Labour 24% | +3pp | Stable |
| Welfare | Labour | 26% | Greens 20% | +6pp | Greens gaining |
About This Tracker
What Is Policy Polling?
Policy polling asks the public about specific proposals rather than just party preferences. It reveals where majority opinion stands on concrete measures and where the parties are out of step. All data from published polling by YouGov, Ipsos, Survation and More in Common.
How We Score “Leads”
Party leads are determined by composite trust scores across multiple pollsters. A party “leads” when it scores highest on the question “which party do you trust most to handle [issue]?” Last updated May 2026.