Just one in four have trust for politicians

Campaigners calling for changes to the Government’s Recall of MPs Bill said public trust in politicians had reached “crisis point” after just 24% said they trusted their MP, according to a YouGov poll of more than 1,600 people.

Another survey of MPs which found 86% believed they were trusted by their constituents showed they were on a “different planet”, pressure group 38 Degrees said.

David Cameron told MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions last week that the proposed law was only “the minimum acceptable”, while Tory MP Zac Goldsmith has already tabled a rival Bill aimed at making MPs more accountable to their constituents.

The Recall of MPs Bill is due before the Commons on Tuesday.

David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees, said: “These figures are proof that the public’s trust in politicians has reached crisis point. MPs don’t just speak a different language - they’re on a different planet to the rest of us.

“Ordinary people haven’t stopped caring about the way the country runs, but faith in tribal Westminster politics is crumbling. Giving voters the power to get rid of bad apple MPs would be the first step towards restoring people’s faith in politics.

“This vote will be the acid test of whether MPs trust their constituents - or whether they want to keep real power locked within Westminster.”

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Rebuilding the bridges between the electorate and their Westminster representatives will be a tough job.

“Parliament has an opportunity to help do that right now by introducing a system of real recall, rather than the grubby stitch-up of a proposal that’s currently on the table.”