A new poll has shown the public do not trust politicians to improve public services.

A YouGov survey published on Friday found that 76 per cent of the electorate do not believe MPs and ministers know what voters want.

And four out of five respondents said they felt excluded from the debate about schools and hospitals which promises to be the battleground of the next general election.

The news will be a disappointment to all three major parties who had hoped that by putting the issues that matter most to voters at the top of their agenda they could re-engage public interest in politics.

However while Westminster has been debating the merits of the government's plans on health, education, transport and crime in recent weeks, its seems the arguments have gone over the heads of most people.

More than half of respondents did feel that the key theme of extending choice would improve the public sector.

But a higher proportion of 62 per cent said greater investment would have more effect, while nearly nine out of 10 thought better management would be the best solution.