When the slippery snake sings hypnotically ‘Trust in me’ in the movie of The Jungle Book every watching child knows that Mowgli should do no such thing.  There is very definitely a hidden agenda.  And yet, not realising that some adults are almost as street-wise as children, our slippery politicians continue to sing the song of Kaa: ‘Watch my lips’; ‘I don’t trust you enough to share my information with you, but you should trust me’; You don’t want me to do it but it’s in your best interests’; ‘Trust in me . . . only me’.

Of course, politicians are human like the rest of us, and we all have our imperfections.  Probably, the majority are hard-working and decent, and deserving of as much trust as anyone else.  But when they consistently come bottom in polls designed to show where we place our trust one is entitled to ask ‘what is going on?’  One thing that is going on is power, which as we all know has the potential to corrupt.  In recent decades there is also publicity.  Every word uttered by our beloved leaders is recorded and repeated and analysed around the world.  And a third factor, at least for some politicians is money.  If anything is designed to separate a world leader from the rest of society it is that combination of power, fame and fortune.

The power/fame/fortune cocktail is an addiction that very few relinquish willingly.  From the world leader’s ivory tower the common man becomes invisible.  At this dizzying height all that are visible are the percentages of opinion polls.  The leader believes his own hype: he is the only one who can save mankind, therefore he must hang on to power, therefore the voters must be told whatever they need to hear to swing the poll another two percent. 

To further distance themselves from their voters, leaders employ spin-doctors, hardly a profession designed to engender trust.  Apparently, Mr Blair has now seen the light, and following the departure of Mr Campbell has promised an era without spin.  A step in the right direction, but Mr Blair might have gained more credibility had he decided this before the pollsters told him he had no choice.

All these are factors, but there is another, underlying cause of distrust: the system.  Politicians are elected to represent their constituencies, but once elected, they must toe the party line.  This critical fault line undermines the very fabric of the democratic process.  Politicians have to play off their loyalties to their voters against the demands of the party whips.  On small issues they have some flexibility.  On big issues they must support their leader, with his now-inflated ego and lack of contact with reality.  It is this fact, not apathy, which results in voters losing interest.  With one vote every five years it is impossible for a voter to make his feelings known on all the issues he cares about, often passionately.  If we would improve the relationship between voter and politician we must begin to dismantle the party system and give the voter more direct involvement with specific issues.  We are living in an age where technology would permit some devolution to the people. 

When the Leader of the Opposition spoke this week he offered a gleam of hope.  Mr Duncan Smith said that at the next election the Labour Party will ask the electorate to trust them.  Again.  In spite of disinformation, spin, missed targets and broken promises.  But the Conservative Party will seek to give more political power to the people.  They will not ask for trust; they will trust the people with that responsibility.   Now wouldn’t that be something?  But like Mowgli, can we trust him?