SEVERAL issues face Britain. They have done for a while: the October issues index by Ipsos-MORI on behalf of The Economist shows that the top four concerns in Britain remain unchanged. The economy, race/immigration, unemployment and an increasingly deflated national health service cause the most anxiety among Britons.

But a couple of other issues have crept up in the headlines. Public concerns about inflation and prices have jumped by eight percent since September to almost a fifth, 19%. This follows on from a rise in energy bills and debates about the cost of living. Furthermore 18% of Britons are worried about schools and education. This is the highest level in 16 months, and can also be glimpsed in the debate about free schools.