Getting over the expenses scandal

Parliament’s reputation seems to have recovered from its nadir during the expenses scandal. According to the government’s “citizenship survey”, the proportion of people trusting parliament fell from 34 per cent in 2008-09 to 29 per cent in 2009-10, while the European Commission’s “Eurobarometer” showed an even bigger drop: from 30 per cent in November 2008 to 17 per cent in July 2009. According to the most recent surveys, however, trust in parliament is back up to pre-scandal levels:

Of course, two-thirds of people still do not trust Parliament – far from a ringing endorsement.