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| Public 'has little trust in MPs' | Public 'has little trust in MPs' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A government survey says the public has little trust in politicians and that people want MPs to tell the truth. | A government survey says the public has little trust in politicians and that people want MPs to tell the truth. |
| The Committee on Standards in Public Life said a significant number felt the Iraq war affected trust, but fewer cited this factor than two years ago. | The Committee on Standards in Public Life said a significant number felt the Iraq war affected trust, but fewer cited this factor than two years ago. |
| Chairman Sir Alistair Graham said public trust levels are at a "worryingly low level". | |
| The survey also showed people wanted politicians to own up to mistakes, and explain their reasons for decisions. | The survey also showed people wanted politicians to own up to mistakes, and explain their reasons for decisions. |
| Less than one in four people (23%) trust ministers to tell the truth and just one in three (29%) trusts the truthfulness of MPs in general. | |
| This compares to a 93% trust rating for family doctors and 84% for head teachers. | |
| Sir Alistair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think there has been a significant change but it is still staying at a worryingly low level." | Sir Alistair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think there has been a significant change but it is still staying at a worryingly low level." |
| On possible reasons for the lack of trust from the public, he said: "A significant number still say Iraq but it's significantly down from two years ago." | On possible reasons for the lack of trust from the public, he said: "A significant number still say Iraq but it's significantly down from two years ago." |
| Reasons explained | Reasons explained |
| He also said people were "very clear" about what they wanted from the politicians they elected. | He also said people were "very clear" about what they wanted from the politicians they elected. |
| "They want politicians - and I don't think we should concentrate on [Tony] Blair, I think we should look at the whole political class as a whole - to own up when they make mistakes, explain their reasons more than they currently do for their actions and decisions. | "They want politicians - and I don't think we should concentrate on [Tony] Blair, I think we should look at the whole political class as a whole - to own up when they make mistakes, explain their reasons more than they currently do for their actions and decisions. |
| "They very strongly want them to tell the truth and react strongly if they feel they are not. | "They very strongly want them to tell the truth and react strongly if they feel they are not. |
| "They also want them to be more in touch with what the public think is important." | "They also want them to be more in touch with what the public think is important." |
| Sir Alistair said he had discussed the survey's findings with Chancellor Gordon Brown over two meetings. | Sir Alistair said he had discussed the survey's findings with Chancellor Gordon Brown over two meetings. |
| "He said that restoring trust between people and politicians was an absolutely critical issue and we will see if he follows that through," Sir Alistair said. | "He said that restoring trust between people and politicians was an absolutely critical issue and we will see if he follows that through," Sir Alistair said. |
| He later added: "What is needed is a sea-change among politicians of all parties in how political business, political debate and indeed how government is conducted." | |
| Discipline call | Discipline call |
| The Liberal Democrat front bencher, Simon Hughes told the BBC most MPs were "honest and truthful" but that the actions of a few could spoil this image. | The Liberal Democrat front bencher, Simon Hughes told the BBC most MPs were "honest and truthful" but that the actions of a few could spoil this image. |
| He said: "If every poster at a general election produced by a political party had to have been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority - or the ASA would have the right to fine parties if they were not decent, honest and truthful - then there would be some discipline. | He said: "If every poster at a general election produced by a political party had to have been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority - or the ASA would have the right to fine parties if they were not decent, honest and truthful - then there would be some discipline. |
| "But there are some very good politicians who do extremely good work, who are honest and truthful. And I think it is the few spoiling it for the many, not the other way round." | "But there are some very good politicians who do extremely good work, who are honest and truthful. And I think it is the few spoiling it for the many, not the other way round." |
| The survey of 2,000 people was conducted for the committee by Ipsos MORI in April. |