European Union Tops Poll As UK's Main Concern

The European Union has become the most important issue facing the UK today for the first time, according to a new poll conducted after the EU referendum.

The month of July saw the EU overtake immigration and healthcare as the top concern for voters, according to Ipsos Mori.

The economy saw a big rise too, with over a third saying it was a major issue, up nearly 7%.

The poll came before reports at the weekend that the planned timetable to leave the EU could be delayed.

The Prime Minister, who is currently on holiday in Switzerland, has said this will not happen this year.

Theresa May, pictured with her husband Phillip, is due back to work on 24 August

Although Brexit Secretary David Davis has suggested Article 50 could be triggered "before or by the start of next year".

Despite a four month referendum campaign, the EU itself only became a major concern after the electorate narrowly voted to leave on 23 June.

Schools, unemployment and housing remain the UK's other major issues in the Ipsos Mori poll of 1,205 adults, conducted between 1 July and 11 July.

The issue of immigration saw the biggest fall as an important issue in voters' judgement post Brexit, though it is positioned second overall.

Meanwhile Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who co-chaired the successful Vote Leave campaign, says EU citizens in the UK have been "left in limbo" since the referendum.

Gisela Stuart campaigned with Boris Johnson and Michael Gove in the run-up to the referendum 

Ms Stuart said the Government had a duty to adopt a "humane" approach towards the estimated 3.5 million EU citizens currently residing in Britain and must demonstrate that the UK remains a "welcoming country" in the wake of the Brexit vote.

Her comments were condemned by Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who said that she had been happy enough to support a campaign which had "whipped up" anti-immigrant sentiment in order to secure a Leave vote.

Ministers have previously indicated that while they would be prepared to let EU nationals already in the UK stay, they want to secure a reciprocal commitment from other member states concerning the 1.2 million UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU.