Who is the most untrustworthy man in Britain?

Sir Trevor MacDonald is the nation's most trusted figure, says a poll that placed television personalities above Tony Blair.

The research, published yesterday by the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Commission, said the ITV newscaster had the trust of 43 per cent of those surveyed. The Channel 5 newsreader Kirsty Young was second, with 24 per cent of the votes.

Mr Blair scored only 7 per cent, less than Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, Chris Tarrant or Cilla Black.

The England football captain David Beckham also surpassed the Prime Minister in the trustworthiness stakes with 9 per cent. Mr Blair was saved from the poll's lowest score by the comedian Sasha Baron Cohen, aka Ali G, who had 1 per cent.

Bob Geldof mustered 21 per cent of the vote and Ian Hislop, the Private Eye editor and star of Have I Got News For You, earned 11 per cent.

The report, New News, Old News, concludes that the Prime Minister's low ranking is indicative of public disenchantment with politics. The report's authors, Professor Ian Hargreaves and James Thomas of Cardiff University, also addressed the popular concern that the news is being "dumbed down".

They confirmed that the number of people taking a daily interest in news was steadily falling, resulting in poorer television and radio news audiences as well as a decline in the readership of newspapers. Only 16 per cent of people questioned regarded themselves as regular current affairs watchers.

An overwhelming 65 per cent of people polled said television was their main source of news, compared with 16 per cent for radio and 15 per cent for newspapers.

The report includes recommendations for the forthcoming Communications Bill. They include guarantees on the ownership of broadcasters, investment, scheduling and a diverse news agenda.

Professor Hargreaves said: "Politicians should beware of thinking that they know better than the broadcasters what will interest people; broadcasters should recognise the importance of their role in ensuring the effective functioning of Britain's democratic procedures and be responsive to the parliamentary view."

Meanwhile, Patricia Hodgson, the ITC chief executive, said that access to trustworthy, informative news could "no more be taken for granted than clean air," adding that "it requires conscious acts of public policy to guarantee it".