Central bankers are being accused increasingly by Europeans of causing the global financial market crisis, and are even catching up with investment and commercial bankers in the blame stakes.

The knock to central bankers’ reputations is revealed in the latest FT/Harris poll of European public opinion, which shows levels of blame have risen significantly since the economic crisis intensified in the last three months of 2008. It suggests central bankers may have to go on the offensive to explain past actions – or be prepared to admit mistakes were made.