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Two in five parents would worry about their child becoming an MP because it is a “dishonest profession”, a poll reveals tonight.

People would also be against a relative dating a politician, according to the study which lays bare the extent to which voters distrust those they elect.

Even hated bankers are seen as “more compassionate” than politicians - who are judged to be in the least compassionate profession, the Opinium survey for the Compassion in Politics think tank shows.

Nurses, doctors and teachers came out top when people were asked to rank nine professions according to how compassionate they are towards the public.

Politicians were below bankers, journalists, civil servants, diplomats and police officers.

Researchers, who quizzed 2,002 people online earlier this month, found 54% do not respect politicians and 40% would oppose the idea of a family member dating a politician, with just 21% not opposed.

Some 38% would discourage a friend from entering politics and 43% of parents admitted they would be concerned if their child decided to become a politician, because they see it as a “dishonest” profession.

Only 22% would be unconcerned.

Compassion in Politics said the findings highlighted a worrying rift between politicians and the public, warning: “Healing that divide is going to take deep-rooted reform.”

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Think tank co-founder Jennifer Nadel said: “There is a very real danger that if the public continues to hold politicians in such low regard their faith in democracy will disappear too.

“The evidence is clear - if politicians want to rebuild voters' trust they need to prioritise compassion.

“Voters don’t want their politicians to put their party loyalties or career advancement ahead of their country.”

Ms Nadel pointed to the foul-mouthed, No10 communications chief from the BBC comedy The Thick Of It as an example of how Westminster is seen from the outside.

(Image: BBC/Mike Hogan)

“We need good people who want the best for our country to go into politics, not be put off because they worry about having Malcolm Tucker as their boss,” she said.

“We need better not less interaction between politicians and the public so the former can truly represent the interests of the latter - and we need an environment at Westminster that promotes compassion, cooperation and inclusion so that the policies that come out of it are built on those values.”

Opinium senior research executive Grantley White said: “Although other public servants like nurses and teachers score high on the compassion scale, politicians are seen as closer to private sector professions, such as journalists and bankers, which is perhaps unsurprising in the current political climate.

“Further to this, four in five Brits report having a special respect for public sector workers in the NHS and the emergency services.”