Trust in the institutions of public life has taken a beating after years of scandal in UK politics. From MPs' lobbying to corruption allegations concerning the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic – and, of course, the 'partygate' affair that implicated figures at the very heart of government during that crisis.

As Ipsos polling commissioned specially for this report shows, there is a sense among the public that people in power do not feel bound by the same rules as them. Two thirds of respondents said that they do not think the current government behaves according to high ethical standards (65%); approaching half believed standards of behaviour had got worse since the 2019 general election (45%).

The general election that will take place in the United Kingdom this year offers both the main parties a chance to reset these perceptions. They should take it. But this needn’t wait till the morning after the vote - both can set out from now how they plan to fix the situation should they enter 'Number 10'.