THE CRISIS OF TRUST Take the integrity test

How do you rate in integrity compared with Britons in general?

To what extent are the following activities justified? The number next to the option you choose is your score for that question. Add the scores together and then look below to see what your total says about you.

Flawed role models?

Cherie Blair Failing to pay fare on public transport
In 2000, the Prime Ministers wife was given a 10 penalty for boarding a train from Luton to London without buying a ticket. Mrs Blair didnt have the 9.60 in cash required for the ticket machine, but climbed aboard so as not to be late for her duties as a crown court recorder. She later admitted the incident was an embarrassment.

A AVOIDING PAYING THE FARE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

Harriet Harman Breaking speed limit

The then Labour minister landed herself a week-long driving ban in 2003 after being caught doing 99mph on the M4. It would appear Ms Harman didnt learn her lesson, as seven years later she was fined 350 for careless driving while using a mobile phone.

B CHEATING ON TAXES IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

C DRIVING FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

Jonathan Aitken Lying in own interests

The former Conservative MP was jailed for 18 months in 1999 after entangling himself in what a judge called a web of deceit. He had tried to sue a newspaper over truthful reports that he allowed the Saudi royal family to put him up in the Paris Ritz at a time when he was in charge of the countrys defence procurement.

D KEEPING MONEY YOU FOUND IN THE STREET

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

E LYING IN YOUR OWN INTERESTS

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

Gary Lineker Litter in a public place

Empty Walkers crisp packets decorate towns and cities up and down the country, and the star of their popular adverts isnt shy of dropping a bit of litter himself. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker was spotted tossing a piece of chewing gum to the floor in Los Angeles last year.

F NOT REPORTING ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE YOU HAVE DONE TO A PARKED CAR

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

G THROWING AWAY LITTER IN A PUBLIC PLACE

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

George W Bush Driving under the influence of alcohol

Mr Bushs 2000 bid for the US presidency was almost upended just days before voters hit the polls by the revelation that he had a drink-driving charge. In 1976, a 30-year-old Bush was pulled over by police in Maine after driving too slowly. He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was fined $150.

H DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

Gordon Ramsay Exaggerating CV

The celebrity chefs oft-repeated boasts of almost making it as a professional footballer were dealt a crushing blow in 2009 when officials at Glasgow Rangers claimed that Ramsay never signed with the club, and was only ever a triallist. One senior member of the club said hed only met Ramsay after he became famous.

I MAKING UP THINGS ON A JOB APPLICATION

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

J BUYING SOMETHING YOU KNOW IS STOLEN

1 Never justified 2 Rarely justified 3 Sometimes justified 4 Always justified

Changing attitudes, 2000-2011

Percentage of respondents who think that an activity is never justified
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

2000 2011
90 100

Distrustful countries
Nations in which the percentage of the population trusting politicians, business leaders, NGOs and the media is lowest
Sweden US South Korea Poland UK Ireland France Germany Spain Japan Russia

What your total score means Up to 10 You are a very honest

person who really wants to do the right thing

National honesty
Distribution of scores on the Integrity Test for Britons, in survey in September 2011
Very or quite honest (up to 15 in test)
Keeping money found in street Lying in your own interests Accidental damage to parked car Buying stolen goods

49% 49% 44% 44% 41% 41% 40% 39% 37% 34% 32%

11 to 15 You are above average in 16 to 20 You are relaxed about

integrity as far as Britons are concerned, but you do not mind bending the rules occasionally. breaking the rules when it suits you, but you are not fundamentally dishonest.

Dishonest (26 or more)

5% 15%
Rule-breakers (21 to 25)

45% 35%

21 or more You do not believe in

living by the rules and find it easy to break them when it suits you.
Sources: University of Essex; Edelman

Dropping litter in the street

Relaxed (16 to 20)

Drunk driving