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Trust in top politicians 'falls' Trust in top politicians 'falls'
(19 minutes later)
Public trust in senior politicians has fallen in the last two years, according to a survey carried out for the Committee on Standards in Public Life.Public trust in senior politicians has fallen in the last two years, according to a survey carried out for the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
The committee's chairman, Sir Christopher Kelly, said he found the results "deeply disturbing".The committee's chairman, Sir Christopher Kelly, said he found the results "deeply disturbing".
The survey suggests 22% of people think government ministers tell the truth - down from 27% in the 2006 survey.The survey suggests 22% of people think government ministers tell the truth - down from 27% in the 2006 survey.
More than 2000 people in the UK were interviewed between January and May this year by BMRB Social Research.More than 2000 people in the UK were interviewed between January and May this year by BMRB Social Research.
Funding fury
The survey suggests the public are less likely to trust politicians not to take bribes than in 2006, believed them to be less competent at their jobs and less likely to make sure public money is used properly.The survey suggests the public are less likely to trust politicians not to take bribes than in 2006, believed them to be less competent at their jobs and less likely to make sure public money is used properly.
National politicians, whether MPs or ministers, continue to languish near the bottom of the league tables, ranked alongside estate agents and tabloid journalists Sir Christopher KellyChair, Standards in Public Life Cttee Funding fury
The survey suggests 42% of people thought ministers were dedicated to doing a good job for the public, down from 46% in 2006.The survey suggests 42% of people thought ministers were dedicated to doing a good job for the public, down from 46% in 2006.
However there were some improvements - 26% of those questioned said they trusted national politicians to explain the reasons for their actions and decisions, up 3% since 2006.However there were some improvements - 26% of those questioned said they trusted national politicians to explain the reasons for their actions and decisions, up 3% since 2006.
National politicians, whether MPs or ministers, continue to languish near the bottom of the league tables, ranked alongside estate agents and tabloid journalists Sir Christopher KellyChair, Standards in Public Life Cttee
The results also suggested that people feel more comfortable with locally elected representatives, compared to national representatives.The results also suggested that people feel more comfortable with locally elected representatives, compared to national representatives.
Sir Christopher said he had already discussed them with the prime minister and leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman.Sir Christopher said he had already discussed them with the prime minister and leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman.
"National politicians, whether MPs or ministers, continue to languish near the bottom of the league tables, ranked alongside estate agents and tabloid journalists," he said."National politicians, whether MPs or ministers, continue to languish near the bottom of the league tables, ranked alongside estate agents and tabloid journalists," he said.
The survey was conducted at a time when MPs' expenses were under the microscope and Peter Hain had resigned from the cabinet after his deputy leadership campaign donations were referred to the police.The survey was conducted at a time when MPs' expenses were under the microscope and Peter Hain had resigned from the cabinet after his deputy leadership campaign donations were referred to the police.
Sir Christopher told a press conference in Westminster this morning that he was concerned by the lack of resolution within Parliament over party funding. Sir Christopher told a press conference in Westminster that he was concerned by the lack of resolution within Parliament over party funding.
He called for political parties "to have the courage to work together to reach a consensus" and said it was "a matter of great dismay that this has not happened and may not happen until after the next election".He called for political parties "to have the courage to work together to reach a consensus" and said it was "a matter of great dismay that this has not happened and may not happen until after the next election".
Sir Christopher announced the Committee on Standards in Public Life will not be launching its own inquiry into the issue until Autumn 2009 at the earliest, if at all.Sir Christopher announced the Committee on Standards in Public Life will not be launching its own inquiry into the issue until Autumn 2009 at the earliest, if at all.
Questioned about the recent so-called Deripaska affair, involving shadow chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Peter Mandelson, Sir Christopher said that "these episodes demonstrate a fairly critical importance of sorting out the issue of party funding".Questioned about the recent so-called Deripaska affair, involving shadow chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Peter Mandelson, Sir Christopher said that "these episodes demonstrate a fairly critical importance of sorting out the issue of party funding".