Britons' trust in politicians hits the floor India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

According to a British opinion poll, the public's trust in politicians and business leaders has dipped after the revelation of the MPs' expenses scandal and the multi-billion pound assistance provided to leading banks. The survey by Ipsos MORI found that only 13 percent people believe politicians tell the truth, down from 21 percent last year, while 82 percent think they lie, an increase of nearly 10 percent over last year's figures. Even government ministers are not highly trusted - only 16 percent people believe them. The politicians have never plummeted such low ranks as this year's levels in the poll's 26-year history. The Guardian quoted Sir Robert Worcester, MORI's founder, as saying: "Politicians talk about 'restoring trust in politicians'. [But] for the last four or five years only about one person in four has said they trust politicians to tell the truth. This year, following the expenses scandal, politicians hit a 25-year low, with just 13percent of the public saying they have faith in what politicians say." Twenty five percent people said business bosses did not lie. This is a dip of five percent over the figures of 2008 and places the bosses at the fourth last spot among 16 groups in the poll. The poll saw the doctors retain their top slot with nearly 92 percent people trusting them. The doctors had received the same votes last year. Teachers bagged the second spot with 88 percent people vouching for their honesty. Judges and professors were gathered the trust of 80 percent people. "For doctors to provide the best care they are capable of, both on an individual level and as a profession, it is vital that they earn and keep the trust of patients. Even though the world of medicine is changing rapidly with new developments in technology, drugs and infrastructure, it is heartening to know that the public's level of trust in doctors has been maintained," said, Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians. The poll asked the opinion of 2,023 people aged 15 and above for the survey.