2. What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? (I) Source: http://www.ipsos- mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemID=56&view=wide EconomyUnemploy- ment Race relations/ immigration/ immigrants NHSCrimeEducation/ Schools Defence /foreign affairs/ international terrorism Mar-12 57362322 18 139 Apr-12 55402120 159 May-12 61342016 15 136 Jun-12 58371916 14 117 Jul-12 59342622 18 149 Aug-12 61352318 14 117 Sep-12 543420 17 135 Oct-12 52322119 18 106 AVERAGE 57.135.321.619.1 14.6 10.87.3

5. What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? (II) Source: http://www.ipsos- mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemID=56&view=wide Petrol prices/fuel Poverty/ inequality EUPublic services Pollution/ environ- ment Mar-12138533 Apr-121510443 May-1289633 Jun-12410843 Jul-12611544 Aug-12410533 Sep-12712322 Oct-12611566 AVERAGE7.910.15.13.63.4

6. Proportion seeing poverty as a major issue, 1998-2011 Source: http://www.ipsos- mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemID=56&view=wide

9. John Kingdon, Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies PROBLEMS POLICIES POLITICS

10. John Kingdon, Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies PROBLEMS Indicators – show that a condition exists, and on what scale, or whether it is changing Focusing event – brings an issue to light in a dramatic or eye-catching way Feedback – information from existing policy that relates to the condition

11. John Kingdon, Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies POLICIES ‘Primeval soup’ of policy formation Policies emerge from the soup by showing they meet certain criteria:  Technical feasibility  Fit with values  Likelihood of future constraints

12. John Kingdon, Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies POLITICS The everyday rough & tumble of political competition shifts levels of support behind specific issues and their solutions Success or failure of specific politicians or of political parties (and even whole political movements) makes specific issues more or less likely to be on the agenda

13. Policy window (I) A combination of circumstances that favours the coming together of the three ‘streams’: Identified and pressing problem Satisfactory policy that can address that problem Political will and capability to pursue the policy

14. Example: 1945 implementation of the Welfare State PROBLEM: the poverty of the 30s depression POLICY: Beveridge’s welfare state proposals POLITICS: Labour’s landslide victory in the 1945 general election Policy window (II)