A piece of research commissioned by the Local Government Information Unit has found that there is a distinct lack of trust in the UK Government, and national media outlets to act in the interests of local people.
With local elections coming up on the 2nd May, and a general election set to be called before the end of 2024, trust in what people are being told is vital to allow them to make informed decisions on who they want to lead and represent them. With this in mind, only 25% of the people that responded to the survey believe that the UK government will act in the best interests of the people.
According to the research, more than half (57%) of the respondents believe that local councils have the biggest impact on the quality of life in communities, with only 14% of respondents attributing this to central government. This was complimented by the fact that local councillors were trusted more to work in the best interests of local people.
The level of trust in local leaders to act in the interests of communities has, however, fallen behind other organisations such as the police, local community groups, and local businesses. This fall in trust has led to 57% of respondents having little trust in their local MP, whilst 53% believe the same about the civil service.
A considerable amount of negativity also surrounds the quality of local services. At a time when councils around the country are cash-strapped and having to stretch resources to make sure that the most important services can survive, almost half of the respondents (48%) think that local services have got worse in the last five years, with 53% blaming the government for this. Just over a third of respondents (37%) believe that local councils are ‘a great deal responsible’ for this reduction in service quality.
LGIU Chief Executive Jonathan Carr-West commented on the findings, saying:
“It is depressing, if not altogether surprising, that the majority of the public lack faith in MPs, the government, and many other public institutions to act in their best interests locally. People see public services in their area getting worse and they are not confident that anyone is going to address this or look after their interests. It is risky to simply accept this as part life. Declining trust in our institutions is corrosive to positive civic life and has the potential to thwart any regeneration or renewal. Restoring public trust should be a priority for all elected officials. That can, and must, begin with local government.”
Despite some increased negativity when it comes to local government, more than half of the respondents (57%) have recognised the importance of local councils as they hold them responsible for having the biggest impact on quality of life in their area. This is supported by beliefs that, where services are thought to have been improved, the council is responsible.
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