As party leaders tour the country ahead of a General Election, a 91Èȱ¬ News 24/ ICM commissioned poll suggests that most people do not believe what they say.
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Seventy-nine per cent of those questioned for the special 91Èȱ¬ poll say they don't trust politicians to tell the truth.
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The results of the poll - to be broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ News 24 (Friday 18 March 2005) as part of a day of programming which explores the issue of trust in politics - shows that 87% of people questioned say politicians promise things before an election, and don't deliver.
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Seventy-three per cent say politicians have shown themselves to be dishonest too often.
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The poll also reveals that 92% of people questioned say politicians don't give a straight answer when questioned.
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Fifty per cent of those questioned think politicians are out merely for themselves as opposed to 16% who think they are out to do the best for their country.
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The media comes in for criticism too, with 55% of the people agreeing that politicians are portrayed unfairly by a cynical media.
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As part of the day's programming, News 24 will explore the historical context of trust in politics.
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Political Correspondent Guto Harri travelled to Copenhagen where trust in politicians is the highest in Europe.
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Former war reporter and MP Martin Bell reflects on his time on both sides of political reporting.
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And throughout the day News 24 will be interviewing a wide range of politicians and commentators and considering whether devolution has improved trust in Scotland and Wales.
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Martin Bell says: "I accept that there has to be party politics but I don't think we can recover trust until there is a loosening of the whip's power, because there are people who stand with an iron grip on the windpipe of democracy.
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"And if there can be a loosening up, I think we can have a House of Commons with individual members, it'll be easier to be proud of."
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Notes to Editors
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ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 25 and 28 February 2005.
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Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
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ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
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Full results of survey available.
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Year to date average audience reach for 91Èȱ¬ News 24 is five million against Sky's 4.4m, making 91Èȱ¬ News 24 the UK's highest rating rolling news channel.
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91Èȱ¬ News 24 has been ahead of Sky News for the past 20 weeks.
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