Coronavirus pandemic 'biggest issue for voters'

A survey has found that coronavirus will be the most important issue to people as they cast their vote in the upcoming local elections.

Conducted by the University of Essex, the research found that 59 per cent of the 3,000 people surveyed said coronavirus was their top issue, despite most of the important decisions on the pandemic are made at a national level.

Regionally, the North West and London had the most people saying they were suffering serious mental health problems as a result of the pandemic - approximately one in five in those areas.

The survey found that 37 per cent of people in Great Britain said the pandemic had caused them to have minor emotional problems with 45 our cent saying they had not had any emotional problems.

Nonetheless, Professor Paul Whiteley, who conducted the survey, said mental health problems might deter people from voting in the upcoming local elections on 6 May. He warned that the issue could mean lower turnouts with people fearful of voting.