Mr Hain praised his prime minister's courage

People did not want politics to be like a Punch and Judy show and politicians should focus on what mattered, he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Politicians were operating in their own "little world", Mr Hain said.

He was reacting to a poll in the Independent which suggested 51% of people think Tony Blair should resign.

In the end people will look at Tony Blair's performance as prime minister Peter Hain

"It isn't good and undoubtedly we have this trust problem at the moment," he said.

But he suggested it was a problem that afflicted "the whole of politics".

He acknowledged that there had been mistakes over the Iraq war and other matters.

But, he said, it was important to look at what the government had achieved.

"I think in the end people will look at Tony Blair's performance as Prime Minister, and say - yes, OK, I maybe don't quite like the way things were handled over Iraq....

".. but, they will say - who is more respected across the world as a Prime Minister - our Prime Minister Tony Blair is," he added.

Poll

He also praised Mr Blair for his courage in bringing forward controversial policies like top up fees, saying they were in the country's long-term interest.

A poll published in the Independent on Saturday found the majority of respondents would like to see Mr Blair resign as prime minister.

Of the 1,003 people asked by pollsters whether they thought Mr Blair had lied to the nation about the threat posed by Iraq, 54% said they believed he had.

Just 31% of those polled, on 4 and 5 February, thought he had told the truth.

The poll also found the Conservatives with a one-point lead over Labour which scored 35%. The Liberal Democrats were in third on 24%.

It also suggested a majority (68%) think Lord Butler's forthcoming inquiry on the intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction would be a "whitewash".

Tessa Jowell denies calling Alastair Campbell aggressive

With fall-out from the Hutton Inquiry still settling, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell denied telling the Daily Telegraph Alastair Campbell has behaved in a bullying or aggressive manner and had little respect for voters.

But she said in a statement she did believe the aggressive style of political discourse can turn off voters.