Panama Papers: ComRes poll shows half of UK public believe tax returns should be public

Despite widespread criticism over his tax affairs David Cameron is still trusted with the nation's finances by most voters according to the latest polls. However almost half found the prime minister's financial dealings "morally repugnant" and he is a far less popular choice as a pub quiz contestant than Boris Johnson, who is tipped by many pundits to be the next Conservative Party leader.

According to the poll, conducted by ComRes for the Independent and Sunday Mirror, 49% of respondents said everyone in the UK should publish their tax returns online, as in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Yet 30% admitted paying tradespeople in cash so as not to have to pay VAT.

The common perception that the Conservatives are a rich peoples' party was also reflected in the poll. Asked if they agreed with the statement the party "only represents the interests of the rich" 59% agreed, a rise of 8 points since 2013. Just 42% of Labour voters trusted their leader Jeremy Corbyn to manage their finances, while 71% of Tories said they would trust Cameron.

There was widespread agreement that the UK should do more to ensure rich people and companies weren't able to use offshore tax havens. Asked whether the UK "should take direct control of its overseas territories that might be used as tax havens", 71% of respondents agreed.

It seems the prime minister is broadly still seen as the best of a bad bunch when it comes to running the country – but even those who voted for Cameron would not necessarily want to know him socially. More than a third wanted Cameron to run the country compared with a quarter for Jeremy Corbyn and under a fifth for Boris Johnson – who more people would like to see eating insects on I'm a Celebrity… than engaging in frank discussions over the UK's EU membership with Angela Merkel.