Book edits DONE
Jan 29, 2010 Freedom of Information
You wait months for a new blog post and then three come along at once!
I’ve been neglecting the dear old YRTK blog while I thundered through all the research and writing necessary to complete the manuscript of The Silent State. It was stressful but intensely exciting and I turned in the book on deadline. [...]
Bad-mouthing FOI
Jan 29, 2010 FOI in the news, Freedom of Information, Law Enforcement
I notice the naysayers are peeping their heads over the parapet again. I’m serving notice that any public servants moaning about having to account to the public under the Freedom of Information had better be prepared to undergo some intense investigation on their spending. I’ll be keeping my eye out for any FOI bad-mouthers in [...]
Terrorists everywhere?
Dec 21, 2009 Freedom of Information
The British Journal of Photography have made some cunning FOI requests to determine the extent to which controversial “S44″ stop-and-search powers have been applied across Britain.
Under Sections 40-44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 , the police can stop and search you without a warrant, or any grounds for suspicion, and can arrest you and hold [...]
Reformer of the Year
Nov 19, 2009 Campaigns, FOI in the news, Freedom of Information
I don’t get to blog much these days as I’m in the final weeks of my book deadline but I ought to mention that I recently received a very welcome piece of news: I won the title of Political Reformer of the Year 2009 after an online election held by the think-tank Reform.
I was [...]
Hidden High Court Injuctions
Oct 16, 2009 Campaigns, Freedom of Information, Justice & Courts
The Twitter vs Trafigura case continues though it really is the Guardian newspaper and Wikileaks who have been driving this amazing story that illustrates the total lack of freedom of expression granted to the citizens of Britain.
For those who haven’t been following the case: The Guardian was attempting to report on Trafigura, a multi-national [...]
When Heather met Paxman
Oct 13, 2009 Campaigns, Central Government, FOI in Parliament, FOI in the news, Freedom of Information
The story that keeps on giving has given me another blast on the airwaves. I’ve been on the TV and radio the last few days talking about the internal audit done on MPs’ expenses in which several hundred MPs have been asked to pay back money. I’ve been brutal, accepting only a few requests due [...]
A small victory for openness
Oct 4, 2009 Campaigns, FOI in Parliament, Freedom of Information
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has now decided to publish my statement in full after I complained vociferously against their timid lawyers’ claims that it was potentially defamatory.
I received an email while away on holiday the other week: “The Committee having weighed the risks decided to publish the submission.”
It is available to [...]
Public relations: bad for our health
Sep 10, 2009 Freedom of Information, Health
I’ve been making a number of FOI requests as part of the research for my book. One of the responses from the Deparmtent of Health was picked up by Tony Collins at Computer Weekly who writes an excellent blog and has probably saved the taxpayer many tens of millions of pounds by his inquisitive digging [...]
Public inquiry details ‘potentially defamatory’ statements
Aug 28, 2009 FOI in Parliament, Freedom of Information
I received a letter today from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Very nice people but sadly lacking the boldness to stand up to their lawyers. I’ve re-published my statement below along with the requested censoring so you can see exactly how little free speech we have in this country.
All requested ‘redactions’ are [...]
The blacked out bits
Aug 28, 2009 FOI in Parliament, Freedom of Information
The requested redacted (eg censored) version tof my statement which the Committee has asked me to approve. Requested censoring in bold.
What keeps people out of power and out of politics is the lack of access to meaningful and useful information. My experience since 2004 has been that Parliament greedily hoards information as a miser does [...]
