New research reveals a sharp decline in public trust in local government, with fewer people believing councils listen to complaints.
Only 26% of Britons now feel most public services, including local councils, are responsive – a drop from 49% in 2002.
Councils were identified by 28% of the over 2,000 respondents as least likely to put people’s interests first, placing them alongside private landlords in public perception.
The study, by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, Ipsos UK, and the LSE, also finds widespread feelings of powerlessness at the local level, with only 23% of the public feeling they can influence local decision-making.
Professor Tony Travers, associate dean of the LSE School of Public Policy, said: ‘Powerlessness is corrosive. The major political parties at both central and local government level risk alienating voters and undermining trust in democracy.
‘If people feel they can’t get public services to work for them because Whitehall and council officials appear not to care, there will be consequences for political parties and for the willingness of people to pay taxes.’
