MY long-held belief that opinion polls are a waste of time has been confirmed by a MORI study that has come my way.

Those who took part placed more faith in Government Ministers than in politicians generally.

Only 18 per cent of people interviewed thought journalists were generally trustworthy but 75 per cent thought television newsreaders usually told the truth.

Most telling of all, only 46 per cent of the people who agreed to take part in the witless exercise rated pollsters as generally trustworthy".

Lies, damn lies and statistics, anyone?