Brexit tops list of issues worrying Scots

More than half of Scots think Brexit is the biggest issue facing Britain, a major survey has found.

Pro-Brexit demonstrators hold Union Jack flags as they protest outside the Houses of Parliament. Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Research by Ipsos MORI found 51 per cent of Scots (compared with 46 per cent for Britain as a whole) see EU withdrawal as the most important political matter, ahead of the NHS, immigration and education.

Across Britain as a whole, it was those in the 45-54 age range who were most concerned about Brexit, with 52 per cent mentioning it.

Pro-Brexit demonstrators hold Union Jack flags as they protest outside the Houses of Parliament. Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

While Brexit received the most mentions from Scots, other issues of concern included the NHS (mentioned by 45 per cent of respondents); immigration (22 per cent) and education / schools (21 per cent).

Crime / law and order was mentioned by only 12 per cent of those polled and the economy by 16 per cent.

Emily Gray, Managing Director of Ipsos MORI Scotland, said: “It’s no surprise that Brexit comes top of Scots’ concerns, given recent debates about how Scotland should be governed if it remains in a United Kingdom that has left the EU.

Pro-Brexit demonstrators hold Union Jack flags as they protest outside the Houses of Parliament. Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

“And while immigration is slightly less of a concern for Scots than it is for the British public overall, that may well change in 2018, given the first minister’s recent call for a distinctive immigration policy for Scotland and to ‘change the narrative’ about immigration and free movement in the context of Brexit.”

Ipsos MORI polled 12,000 people for the research.