Recent political events have shaken trust in politics. In November 2019, IPSOS Mori reported that politicians had hit the bottom of its veracity index of professions for trust. In January, a survey ranked the UK above only Russia in terms of trust in its politicians.

One of the areas in which trust has been questioned is the reopening of schools as part of the easing of the lockdown procedures.

Many have raised concerns about the safety of this action. The National Education Union listed five tests it wished to see met before reopening. These are largely focused around proper testing programmes and comprehensive responses when required to protect everyone involved. The British Medical Association agreed and came out in support.

In Watford, these concerns were also shared at a recent Trades Council meeting. As more than one participant noted, “People are frightened.”

Eroding trust in politics impacts what we do and why. In January, the council decided to introduce charging for green bin collection because it’s overspent on vanity transport projects – the ‘uber-bus’ – bad idea at the time, flagrant waste of money now. It then proposed stopping collecting the green bins, reversed its decision and delayed introducing the charge. Such confusion leads to a loss of trust in what we’re told.

Most people believe schools should reopen, when it’s safe to do so. Notwithstanding the lack of scientific agreement on their infectiousness, it’s not just the children, but who they go home to. It’s the teachers, the support staff, the cleaners, the caterers.

Many of them are in more vulnerable groups, including black and minority ethnic families and individuals. We’ve all seen the recent appalling actions and subsequent loss of trust in politicians and authority over George Floyd. What that means for long term trust, we can currently only speculate.

  • Matt Turmaine is a Labour councillor for Holywell