Revealed: Trust in politicians at lowest level on record

• Almost two in three now see politicians as ‘merely out for themselves’
• IPPR study shows ‘significant and disturbing’ decline in satisfaction with democracy, and in trust in key democratic institutions
• Sleaze scandal ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ of declining political trust

A major new IPPR think tank report warns that a decline in political trust is undermining liberal democracy in the UK. In 1944, just one in three British people (35 per cent) saw politicians as merely ‘out for themselves’, while by 2014 that number was 48 per cent and in new IPPR polling conducted last weekend, 63 per cent said they share this view.

The IPPR poll, carried out by YouGov with a representative sample of more than 1,600 voters, replicated the historic Gallup poll first run in 1944 that asked people across Britain whether they think politicians were out for themselves, their party, or their country. When IPPR asked the question in May this year, just after the Greensill scandal, a clear majority (57 per cent) said they thought politicians were ‘out for themselves’, suggesting that distrust in politics had already become the norm.

The sharp rise since then suggests that the ‘sleaze scandal’ that has recently consumed Westminster has taken an even greater toll on public confidence in politics and politicians, the researchers say.

IPPR argues that while sources show levels of political trust in Britain rose following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, this opportunity to rebuild trust may already have been squandered. Now further action is needed to rebuild trust in politicians and the key institutions vital for a thriving and effective democracy.

Analysis of the British Election Study data revealed that levels of trust are defined by a number of factors, and how Brexit and the 2019 election changed things:

• Education – Those with GCSE level qualification levels or below consistently report lower levels of trust than those with higher education qualifications. However, this trend reversed in 2019 when for the first time university-educated respondents reported lower trust levels than those with fewer qualifications.
• Political identity – In 2014 would-be Remain voters were around 10 percentage points more trusting than would be Leave voters, but by June 2020 this pattern had reversed with Remain voters 10 per cent less trusting than Leave voters. Supporters of the incumbent government consistently report higher trust levels, however overall trust fell sharply during the 2019 Brexit standstill and has not yet fully recovered.
• Geography – Trust in MPs falls the further away from Westminster you travel within England. Burnley records the lowest average levels of political trust – while Hampstead and Kilburn in North London records the highest average levels of trust in MPs. Those who feel more Scottish, more Welsh or more English than British are less satisfied with the state of democracy in the UK.

IPPR warns that declining political trust is associated with rises in disengagement from the political system, populism and polarisation of society. The think tank points to the US as a warning of what could happen in the UK, with levels of trust strictly split down party lines depending on which party is in power, and populism and polarisation blighting everyday politics.

The progressive think tank also argues that a lack of political trust makes it harder for leaders to achieve consensus to take bold action using state power to solve problems. Solving long-term problems such as regional inequality or the climate crisis, where policy may not deliver immediate benefits, requires trust that action will eventually result in a better future for everyone, according to IPPR.

IPPR argues that growing distrust in politicians should be of particular concern for progressives. Declining trust is thought to be linked to a decline in support for income redistribution and ‘culturally open’ policy measures, particularly on immigration. Without trust in government, it will be harder for progressives to advocate and enact policy requiring greater levels of government intervention, according to the report.

The report concludes that lack of trust is driven by the perceived performance of government and peoples experience with democracy and government. A decade of stagnant growth since the financial crisis, rising inequality and struggling public services, combined with an unrepresentative voting system, overly centralised government and a slew of stories of ‘sleaze’ scandals have contributed to a downward spiralling of trust, according to IPPR.

To reverse this trend, the report sets out four significant social and political gaps that must be closed to improve political trust in the UK:

1. Narrowing the gap between the lives people are experiencing with the lives they expect to lead. Building back better after the pandemic with better public services, jobs and opportunities is vital.
2. Narrowing the gap between the challenges we face and what people believe the state can do about them. By delivering action that tackles the big issues, the state can demonstrate its ability to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
3. Narrowing the gap between the way the political system is currently operating with the original principles of liberal democracy through a bold programme of constitutional and democratic reform. This report marks the start of a major IPPR project to outline what this reform agenda should look like.
4. Narrowing the values gap between ordinary people and those who govern by improving the diversity of election candidates and involving citizens more directly in democratic processes and decision making. A candidate shortlisting process that puts more emphasis on selecting people from different backgrounds including those who haven't gone to university, could be a good step to address this.

Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR director of research and engagement, said:

“Our research shows a significant and disturbing decline in public trust in politicians and democracy in the UK. More people than ever are convinced that MPs are primarily looking out for themselves, rather than their country. Rather than taking bold action now to reverse this long-term trend, the government seem to be making things worse.

“These trends are deeply concerning. In a political system where voters allow and rely on others to make decisions on their behalf, trust is the most valuable commodity. Without it, our democratic systems stop functioning effectively. Our politicians must act now to set the UK on a new course, away from democratic dissatisfaction, towards a system which delivers on the priorities of citizens and where everyone has a say in how society is governed.”

Will Jennings, professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southampton, and principal investigator at TrustGov research project, said:

“Politics has always been seen as a dirty business by voters, but there is little doubt that trust in our political class has reached new lows in recent years. Citizens increasingly see British politicians as self-serving rather than wanting to do the best for their country. We see the lowest levels of trust the further away people live from Westminster.

“While trust in our politicians and satisfaction with democracy is in decline, Brexit has disrupted this long-term trend. Leavers are now more trusting of MPs and more satisfied with UK democracy than Remainers. However, taking back control has sadly not delivered a more trusting citizenry overall, but rather has boosted trust among the political ‘winners’ of recent years – while the losers are more disillusioned with our political class than ever before.

“If we are to restore trust in British politics, as part of a wider project of national renewal, we need an honest conversation about the depth of the distrust and disillusionment of citizens.”

ENDS

Harry Quilter-Pinner and Rachel Statham (IPPR senior research fellow), two of the report’s authors, are available for interview.

CONTACT

David Wastell, Head of News and Communications: 07921 403651 d.wastell@ippr.org

Robin Harvey, Senior Digital and Media Officer: 07779 204798 r.harvey@ippr.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The IPPR paper, Trust issues: dealing with distrust in politics by Harry Quilter-Pinner, Rachel Statham, Will Jennings and Victor Valgarðsson will be published on Sunday 5^th December at http://www.ippr.org/research/publications/trust-issues
2. Advance copies of the report are available under embargo on request
3. YouGov interviewed a representative sample of 1,683 adults between May 4 and 5, and a further representative sample of 1,684 adults between November 26 and 28, asking the same question that Gallup first asked in 1944: “Do you think that British politicians are out merely for themselves, for their party, or to do their best for their country?”
4. Other new analysis is derived by the authors from British Election Study data.
5. A majority of the British public now think politicians are merely out for themselves

6. Trust in MPs by party support

IPPR is the UK’s pre-eminent progressive think tank. With more than 40 staff in offices in London, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh, IPPR is Britain’s only national think tank with a truly national presence. www.ippr.org