The incredible and the unbelievable
The publication yesterday of Ipsos Mori’s Veracity Index again shows the low regard in which the public hold ministers and politicians.
The publication yesterday of Ipsos Mori’s Veracity Index again shows the low regard in which the public hold ministers and politicians. But it begs the question of why they pay so much attention to the press.
Ipsos Mori’s Veracity Index (commissioned intriguingly by the British Medical Association) yet again shows that doctors and teachers top the net trust ratings at +80% and + 69% respectively (calculated as the difference between people saying they trust the group to tell the truth and they don’t) – perhaps illustrating the problems for the government in pushing through public sector reform against the views of professional groups. Three groups linger at the bottom of the rankings: ministers, politicians generally and journalists. Over a twelve year period, politicians have become more unpopular than ministers (on a downward trend pre-expenses). Ministers have lurked in the net minus fifties – and journalists have slightly recovered their reputation – but only from the lowest starting point of all groups. Ministers’ trust took a dive down in 2009 and has stayed down in 2011 (though people are a little less negative than before).
Net trust ratings in selected professions 1999-2011
Interestingly, despite the financial meltdown and the recession, business leaders have risen in the credibility ratings – though saw a dip in 2009.
Civil servants have markedly more positive scores than their political masters. And the public rates experts like professors and scientists highly.
The message to ministers? Get the professions onside when you can, use experts when you can to make your case, and treat journalists with the same scepticism as the public does.