The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

THE GOVERNMENT has overtaken the Church as the least trusted institution in Ireland.

New research shows a mere 35 per cent of educated high earners said they trusted their elected representatives to do the right thing.

The figure is down from 37 per cent the year before and also below the 43 per cent average for governments worldwide.

A year ago the Government was the third-most trusted institution in the country — ranking alongside the media but behind campaign groups and the business sector.

But the country’s religious institutions have improved their trust rating following moves by the Catholic Church to make amends for clerical abuse scandals.

Public faith in religious institutions has risen from 29 per cent to 37 per cent making the Church the fourth-most trusted institution in the country.

The public’s trust in the country’s newspapers, radio and television has risen to 43 per cent from 37 per cent the year before.

Ireland’s business community has lost its crown as the nation’s most trustworthy institution — scoring 47 per cent compared to 50 per cent the year before.

But campaign groups and charities like aid agency GOAL, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland and Trócaire are the country’s most trusted institutions with a 59 per cent trust rating — up from 48 per cent the year before.

Public relations firm Edelman carried out the poll in 18 countries.