Trust in banks, energy companies and the media has fallen sharply, according to the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, but trust in government has risen for the second year running. Seventy-one per cent of those questioned want government to impose stricter regulations and controls on all sectors, and nearly three-quarters think the government should intervene in banking and financial services. A further 61 per cent believe the government that is responsible for solving the financial crisis, a higher figure than other EU countries.