Voters care most about health and education

The state of education is the number one election issue for Londoners, an Evening Standard/Mori poll reveals today.

Almost seven out of 10 people in the capital say they will be thinking about schools when they decide how to vote on 5 May.

Concern about education is more widespread in London than in the rest of the country, possibly reflecting official figures showing that standards are patchier and fewer families obtain places in their first choice of schools.

Nationally, the issue was named as "very important" by 61 per cent. In London it was 66 per cent. Among those respondents, Labour's education policies are backed by 35 per cent, compared to 20 per cent for the Conservatives and 16 per cent for the Liberal Democrats.

The most important issue across the country is health, named by 67 per cent and by 62 per cent of Londoners. Again Labour is ahead, with 36 per cent support, compared to 22 for the Tories and 10 for the Liberal Democrats.

Iraq - the issue most feared by Labour MPs - has tumbled down the list of priorities for the public.

Among those who say it is important to them, four times as many prefer Charles Kennedy's stance against the war to Mr Blair's position. But four out of five voters do not rate Iraq as very important.

That could be critical in the bitter fight between Oona King and anti-war figurehead George Galloway in Bethnal Green and Bow, though the high number of Muslim voters in the east London makes that result unpredictable.

Asylum is Mr Howard's strongest issue - but law and order is seen as important by more people. Crime issues come in third place, both in London and across Britain, with the Conservative policies backed by 38 per cent of those who rate the issue very important, compared to 26 per cent for Labour's.

Housing and public transport are two more issues of greater concern to Londoners. Labour has a three to one lead over the Tories on both.

Public transport is in 10th place for Britons over all, ranked as very important by 26 per cent. But in London, with its crowded Tubes, buses and trains, four out of 10 rated it very important.

Of the top 10 issues, Labour is ahead on six - - the others being pensions and managing the economy. The Conservatives are ahead on three: crime, taxation and asylum and immigration.

The Liberal Democrats are winning on protecting the natural environment.