About this site
The YRTK website accompanies and updates my book Your Right to Know: A Citizen’s Guide to the Freedom of Information Act. I wrote this book to expose the extent of Britain’s culture of secrecy and to give people the tools they need to challenge and change the system so it becomes more open and accountable to the public.
My philosophy is simple: the public pay for and elect the government and it is only by the people’s will that those in public office hold power. Public servants’ primary responsibility is to serve the people and we have a right to know what they are doing in our name and with our money. Public accountability does not end the day after an election!
The most effective way to hold people to account is to know clearly who is responsible for what and to name names. There is nothing noble about protecting negligent organisations or individuals from shame or embarrassment; it is at the direct expense of the public – the negligent dentist continues to practise, the unhygienic restaurant continues to feed people, and the rogue traders defraud more unwary customers.
It is not for central government alone to be the watchdog for the people. The state already has more than enough power. The proposed introduction of ID cards, electronic health records, information sharing between agencies and anti-terrorism laws all give the government even greater rights to collect information about private citizens.
A strong FOI law is essential to ensure that the government gathers and uses this information correctly with proper regard for our civil liberties and privacy. Direct accountability to citizens through freedom of information is also the most cost-effective, efficient and democratic way of ensuring good governance.
The enactment of the freedom of information law is the first step in shifting power back into the people’s hands. But the law must be used and strengthened if we are to create a truly open society. This site will help you do just that.
