The most and least trusted professions in the UK
Politicians top list, while nurses, doctors and teachers are considered the most honest

In a year of political upheaval, including a divisive EU referendum campaign in the UK, the public's esteem for politicians has plumbed new depths.
MPs come last in this year's Ipsos Mori "veracity" survey, which ranks the trustworthiness of professions, with only 19 per cent of the public thinking they largely tell the truth.
"One rare point of agreement between Leave and Remain voters is that neither of the campaigns covered themselves in glory; between them they demonstrated most of the characteristics that turn voters off," says the report.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Journalists fared little better and were trusted by a mere 24 per cent of respondents. That sets them below bankers, estate agents and lawyers.
Nurses came out on top, with 93 per cent of people trusting them to tell the truth, followed by teachers, scientists and judges.
Here is the full list of how survey respondants ranked 24 professions in terms of trustworthiness:
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Teachers
- Judges
- Scientists
- Police
- Clergy/priests
- Hairdressers
- Television news readers
- The ordinary man/woman in the street
- Civil Servants
- Lawyers
- Pollsters
- Managers in the NHS
- Economists
- Charity chief executives
- Trade union officials
- Local councillors
- Bankers
- Business leaders
- Estate agents
- Journalists
- Government ministers
- Politicians generally
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Thrilling must-see operas for 2025
The Week Recommends From Carmen to Peter Grimes, these are the UK's must-see productions
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
There is a 'third state' between life and death
Under the radar Cells can develop new abilities after their source organism dies
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Is it worth getting an interest-only mortgage?
The Explainer Your monthly payments may be cheaper but the full mortgage amount will need to be paid back eventually
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?
Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
By The Week Staff Published