British people 'most honest in the world' - and have UK politicians to thank

Researchers linked the results of the study with levels of corruption among the nation’s elites

Boris Johnson speaking to journalists last month. British politicians aren't seen to be as corrupt as those in other countries (Getty Images)

The British public are particularly honest because our politicians are less corrupt than those in other countries, psychologists have claimed.

Some 2,500 young people from a number of countries around the world were asked to roll a dice in private and then claim a cash prize based on the number, The Daily Telegraph reported. However, they were secretly filmed so researchers from Nottingham University could test how honest they were about their score.

According to a paper published in Nature, British people were the most honest just ahead of Swedes, Germans, Lithuanians and Italians. The least honest people – according to this test -- were from Tanzania, Morocco, China, Vietnam and Colombia.

The researchers linked the results of the study with levels of corruption among the nation’s elites.

Lead author of the study, Simon Gachter, professor of psychology and economic decision-making at Nottingham University, said: “Ethical values, including honesty, are transmitted from prestigious people, peers and parents.

“People often take high-status individuals such as business leaders and celebrities as role models, and their cheating can set bad examples for dishonest practices.

“Rule violations not only have direct adverse economic consequences, but might also impair individual intrinsic honesty that is crucial for the smooth functioning of society.

“If cheating is pervasive in society and goes often unpunished, then people might view dishonesty in certain everyday affairs as justifiable.”