“Politicians need trust like a baby needs milk,” says Michael Cockerell, maker of this documentary, which examines how the milk supply drained away as the respectful deference of the 1950s was replaced by satire, sleaze and spin. The consensus among politicians is that their own conduct has changed little; the reason for the failure in public confidence has been the attitude of television and the tabloid press. The problem, everyone agrees, is that although this may add to the sum of public merriment, it’s bad for democracy, as all politicians are assumed to be making out or raking it in.

Clare Short is one of those warning of dire consequences if this goes on.

Discuss it with your sixth form, general studies or citizenship group.