The Trust Challenge

Trust is a word we don’t often associate with politics. However, few words could have been more central to Boris Johnson’s downfall. And it’s important, not just on a national and international scale, but for businesses and communities too. The impact of this is likely to resonate well beyond politics.

Trust is central to government, communities and businesses. It is the cornerstone of our communities and society at large. Trust in our neighbours. Trust in those delivering our local services. Trust in the media.?And, of course, trust in politics. Trust is part and parcel of our political system, but also of our daily lives.

On 13th July the OECD will launch its annual Trust Survey. Never has a report sounded timelier. Most recently, the OECD has published more in-depth reports looking at trust in political institutions in Norway, Finland and Korea. One of the binding elements of trust is that people in these countries, which have reliable, open institutions, have faith in their public institutions to deliver.

During Covid-19, our trust in public services have been under pressure. Even in highly effective countries like Finland and Norway, there is still a disconnect between the performance of local services and accountability and openness. There is also a need for better user experiences, particularly through better use of technology, and a need to prioritise and address the major societal challenges.

In Britain we can expect a lively debate about trust. For all his bluster about getting the job done, nobody believed Boris Johnson in the end. He has tarnished the reputation of government and of politics as a whole. His personal downfall will, however, put standards, probity and openness back at the heart of political and public debate.

Many of those in the Conservative leadership race keen to highlight their commitment to standards. However, while Johnson may be keen to focus public debate on other issues, he still has to contend with the outcome of the Privileges Committee, which is looking into whether he misled Parliament over Partygate.

Lord Evans, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has highlighted concerns that standards and ethics have been eroded in recent years and there is a need to strengthen the role of the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. He wants stronger regulation and oversight, not weaker.

Trust though is not just about standards, but also about delivery. Over successive years many of our valued public services have been whittled away. Local government and may service providers have been starved of cash, facing ever-growing cutbacks that will make it near-impossible to deliver the range of services we previously enjoyed.

As we enter a new debate on trust and the value of our public services, now is the time for us to put trust back into the heart of our politics, communities and our public bodies. We need to create open dialogue about the standards we expect from our political leaders but also about the services they promise to deliver.?