Mark Easton: The loss of trust in politics has had a visceral, devastating impact on citizens

Less than 24 hours before the UK goes to the polls for the General Election, it was interesting to hear Mark Easton, BBC News Home Editor, talk about the collapse of faith in our democratic systems.

The belief that there is one rule for us and one rule for them among the ruling classes is a cancer that is killing democracy and an issue that goes beyond good governance. This was the punchy message from Mark Easton, BBC News Home Editor, as he opened today’s Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland’s #Governance2024 conference.

Referencing Sir John Curtice’s work showing that levels of trust in politics and politicians are the lowest on record, Easton said that whoever wins the General Election will face a huge rebuilding job to restore public faith in our democracy.

Listing the five key drivers of trust in government as being (in order of importance) integrity, fairness, competence, openness and connection, he said the Cash for Questions, MPs expenses, Partygate and Gamblegate scandals had all had a devastating impact on people’s trust in power.

Voluntary compliance is a central part of a centralised democratic state, said Easton, but the legitimacy of the state is being eroded by bad practice.

Speaking about the importance of connection he said:

“People told me they felt disconnected from the decisions about their lives. Things were done to them. Democracy wasn’t working.”

According to an IpsosMori poll, government ministers and journalists are trusted less than estate agents. A worldwide study by The Policy Institute shows that the UK is among the least likely to have confidence in the government, parliament, political parties or the press.

Social media is driving lies and disinformation, including through state sponsored trolls, which is weakening democracy further.

In closing, Easton suggested there is a need to remind ourselves what public service actually means before it becomes too late:

“We need to keep asking the question about how to restore trust - otherwise in time we might end up asking what happened to our democracy?”

The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland’s #Governance2024 conference takes place on 3rd and 4th July at the Novotel, Hammersmith. For more information, visit www.cgi.org.uk.