Scottish & Welsh Elections: Top Concerns & Party Promises

0:00On March 2, voters in Scotland and Wales head to the polls on the 7th of May for elections to their parliaments in Holyrood and the Senate. A recent BBC poll highlights the top concerns shaping how people will vote. The biggest issues are the economy and cost of living, followed closely by health and social care services, and then immigration levels. Older voters and women prioritize health and social care more than others. Those who backed reform in last year's general election focus heavily on immigration. Younger people often add housing to the mix as a key worry. Still, all parties ignore these core topics at their peril. In both nations, over half of people say their economy has worsened in the last 12 months, and about half feel the same about their health. Services. On immigration, mostly benefits from migrants, but around half want fewer coming from outside the UK to live and work. People largely blame the UK government for economic troubles, with more than two-thirds pointing fingers at Westminster, rather than their local.

1:03Administrations. This holds even among supporters of the SNP in Scotland and Labour in Wales. Many also feel their regions get an unfair share of UK funding. As campaigns heat up, parties face the task of proving their devolved powers can deliver real change on these fronts before voters decide the next. of leaders of leadership