The health mandate: The voters' verdict on government intervention

The NHS ranks just behind the cost of living as the second most pressing issue facing the country, but this concern goes beyond access to treatment. Voters see health as shaped by broader social and economic pressures, not just individual choices. They want more action from government: to make healthy choices easier and more aff ordable, improve housing and work conditions, and invest in the foundations of health in childhood.

This research – based on a nationally representative poll of 2,010 UK adults and focus groups in key battleground constituencies – shows that a clear public mandate exists for action on the structural drivers of health. Crucially, this mandate cuts across traditional political lines, off ering a rare opportunity to improve lives and build electoral support.