Keir Starmer is more trusted by the public than either of the Tory leadership candidates, research has revealed.
A poll by Ipsos UK found more Brits have faith in the Labour leader to tell the truth than Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss - or ousted PM Boris Johnson.
Some 61% of people polled said they thought Mr Johnson told the truth “not very often” or “never” - almost double the number who thought the same about Mr Starmer.
About 23% of people said they believed Mr Sunak told the truth all or most of the time, just ahead of Liz Truss with 22%.
Even among people who voted for him, only 29% trust him.
Kelly Beaver, CEO of Ipsos UK: “This poll illustrates clearly the “trust problem” that Boris Johnson has with the British public.
“And with almost one in two Britons not expecting either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss to tell the truth, it shows that both his potential replacements have a way to go to gain the trust of the public.”
Overall, Brits are more likely to have trust in their own MP than MPs in general.
Three in 10 trust their own representative, but this falls to less than two in 10 (19%) when asked about MPs in general.
And just 18% trust Government ministers to tell the truth.
But the pollster said it did not necessarily mean “smooth sailing” for the Labour leader.
While the number trusting Mr Starmer has remained unchanged on 30% since June 2020, the number distrusting him has risen from 19% to 33% overt he same period.
But among Labour voters, 45% said they trust him to tell the truth at least most of the time.
Ms Beaver added: “ Keir Starmer ’s ratings show that he has not yet been able to establish himself as more “trustworthy” alternative, and the low esteem in which all politicians are held serves as a reminder of the task in hand for all the party leaders.”
