Poll finds deep distrust of politicians
The loans for peerages row has had a major impact on how honest Britain’s politicians appear to the public, a new survey suggests.
A poll of 2,000 adults for the committee on standards in public life finds that 21 per cent of adults are now unsure whether ministers and MPs would take a bribe, compared to just three per cent two years ago.
Only 63 per cent of people believe bribery among politicians is rare, compared to 80 per cent from a similar survey in 2004. This is despite 85 per cent saying it is extremely important that MPs and ministers are honest.
The findings suggests that the allegations earlier this year about political parties offering peerages in return for donations and loans have had an effect on public confidence – despite the parties’ insistence they did nothing wrong.
Politicians also fare badly when it comes to telling the truth – just 23 per cent of the survey’s respondents said most government ministers told the truth, compared to 84 per cent for head teachers and 93 per cent for family doctors.
A similar number – 29 per cent – said MPs in general were not likely to tell the truth, although confidence improved considerably (48 per cent) when people were asked about their local MP.
The chairman of the standards committee, Alistair Graham, warned there must be a “sea change” in the way politicians operate and how government was conducted.
He has previously berated Tony Blair for failing to take the issue of standards seriously enough in terms of introducing new regulatory bodies for ministers and MPs, but today he said it was the whole political culture that needs changing.
“I am concerned that the study confirms a widespread belief among the public that they don’t think politicians in general tell the truth, that they don’t explain the reasons for their decisions and actions and they don’t own up when they make mistakes,” he said.
“These behaviours that the public are most negative about are more about the way the business of government and politics is conducted than about financial ‘sleaze’. People do not believe they are dealt with in a straightforward, honest and open manner.
“These are matters that cannot easily be rectified through codes and rules alone. What is needed is a sea-change among politicians of all parties in how political business, political debate and indeed how government is conducted.”
Last week, Sir Alistair joined members of the public administration select committee in urging the creation of a new independent body to police the ministerial code of conduct.
They argued that public confidence in politicians and the political system in general would be greatly improved if someone other than Mr Blair could investigate alleged misconduct by ministers.
