The health of the NHS is the most important factor influencing Jesmond voters in this general election, according to our straw polling. Brexit is a close second and homelessness is a major factor too.

We interviewed 45 Jesmond residents outside Tesco, Waitrose, Jesmond and West Jesmond Metro stations and asked them which issue was most important to them when considering their vote in next month’s election. The results were:

• NHS: 16 (35%)
• Brexit: 12 (27%)
• Homelessness: 10 (22%)
• Climate emergency: 4 (9%)
• Other issues: 3 (7%)

The NHS has been the subject of fierce political debate this week with Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives all pledging to increase spending on the NHS to varying degrees.

With recent statistics showing that UK-wide hospital wait-times have reached their worst ever level, several of the respondents we met talked of problems they had faced in the last year when dealing with the NHS.

“Hospitals are in an absolute state and I have to book three weeks in advance for a GP appointment and then it ends up being cancelled anyway and I wait another three weeks, it’s a disgrace,” said one respondent.

Residents were then asked if there were any other issues they considered important:

• NHS: 37 (82%)
• Brexit: 41 (91%)
• Homelessness: 20 (44%)
• Climate emergency: 38 (84%)

While Brexit was behind the NHS as a primary concern, it was the subject viewed by the highest proportion of respondents as one of the most important issues.

While both sides of the Leave/Remain divide were represented among those who said Brexit was the most important issue, there was a consensus that the debate is having a negative impact on the country and that the process needs to come to an end, whatever the outcome.

One respondent said: “I’m bored of it and just want it over with. Too many other things are being forgotten when Brexit is all we talk about.”

On the subject of homelessness, one respondent said: “It’s the issue I see most frequently day to day around Jesmond… and it appears to be getting worse.” Another said: “It’s horrible to see, when it’s so cold, more and more people on the streets around here.”

The contrast between those who view the climate emergency as the most important issue (9%) versus those who see it as one of the important issues (84%) was the most marked. It suggests the climate crisis is important to Jesmond residents, but takes a backseat compared to, what are perceived as, more immediate issues of Brexit, the NHS and homelessness.