Trust in politicians 'approaching rock bottom', survey finds

Trust in politicians is “approaching rock bottom” as just 15% of the public believe they can be depended on to tell the truth, a poll has found.

Politicians were ranked as the least trustworthy professionals in the annual Ipsos Mori "veracity" survey, sinking a further 6% over the year that brought the Brexit vote.

At the other end of the trust scale, nurses topped the index with the backing of 93% of respondents - ahead of doctors, teachers and judges.

The report authors said the drop in trust for politicians would have been "surprising" had it not been for the EU referendum.

They said: "2016 is, of course, some way away from being a normal year, and voters' levels of trust in mainstream politicians seem to be approaching rock bottom."

The report added: "One rare point of agreement between Leave and Remain voters is that neither of the campaigns covered themselves in glory; between them they demonstrated most of the characteristics that turn voters off.

"Politicians in Westminster in particular have much work to do to start reconnecting with voters and demonstrating that they have priorities other than getting their own viewpoints across and ignoring debate."

According to the index, which polled 1,019 adults between October and November, government ministers, journalists and estate agents are also among the least trustworthy professionals.

Trust in lawyers, priests and the police has climbed, while pollsters fell two places in the index.

Most trusted professions (% of people who trust them to tell the truth)

:: Nurses (93%)
:: Doctors (91%)
:: Teachers (88%)
:: Judges (81%)
:: Scientists (80%)

Least trusted professions (% of people who trust them to tell the truth)

:: Business leaders (33%)
:: Estate agents (30%)
:: Journalists (24%)
:: Government ministers (20%)
:: Politicians (15%)