On transparency, like so much else, the UK government is shifting the goalposts
The government dismissed damning openDemocracy report on FOI as ‘complete nonsense’ – I wasn’t surprised, I’ve seen its efforts to act in secrecy
Access Denied
Our report on how the British government is attacking Freedom of Information
Latest
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsClearing House: Government admits it’s done nothing about ‘Orwellian’ unitCabinet Office pledged to review a unit that blocked Freedom of Information requests. Five months on, it hasn’t even...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsTory minister says transparency laws are ‘malign’Lord Callanan accused the public of having ‘forms set up on their word processors’ to submit FOI requests ‘with gay abandon’
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsCabinet Office’s actions ‘increase suspicion’ about secretive FOI unit, MPs toldThe government department refused to allow a probe into its ‘Orwellian’ Clearing House unit in the wake of...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: OpinionThe FOI system is utterly broken. Here’s how to fix itRequests for government information are delayed to the extent of rendering them pointless. This only serves...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsTory advisers allowed to ‘approve’ government Freedom of Information repliesExclusive: Campaigners criticise ‘deeply suspicious’ practice that allows SpAds to vet transparency disclosures
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Published in: Freedom of Information: News2020 was worst year on record for UK government secrecyExclusive: Landmark openDemocracy report exposes depth of the government’s attack on the Freedom of Information Act
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Published in: openDemocracyUK: NewsBP paid ex-MI6 spy firm to snoop on green campaignersExclusive: Oil giant also shared intelligence on environmentalists with British Museum and Warwick University in...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsTransparency group that helped introduce UK FOI law faces closureThe Campaign for Freedom of Information has launched a crowdfunder to raise £50,0000 after ‘serious shortfall’ in funding
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Published in: Freedom of Information: FeatureIn the UK, government secrecy is growing. Here's how we fight backOn International Right to Know Day, here’s what openDemocracy has exposed about the threat to Freedom of Information
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsMPs condemn UK government's ‘abuse’ of taxpayer money to fight FOIsExclusive: Government accused of ‘misusing’ vast sums after openDemocracy revealed half a million pounds was spent...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsUK government’s ‘Orwellian’ FOI unit interfered in Grenfell fire FOI requestsExclusive: Cabinet Office’s Clearing House told housing ministry to alter responses to Freedom of Information...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsUK government spent half a million pounds on lawyers to fight FOI disclosuresExclusive: Government accused of ‘wasting time and taxpayers’ money’ after spending heavily on legal challenges to...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: News70% of public concerned by UK government secrecyExclusive: Conservative voters more vexed about government transparency failures than Labour voters, poll...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsCabinet Office announces review into controversial FOI unit
The FOI ‘Clearing House’ was criticised by a judge after openDemocracy won a landmark case against the government
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsUK government could charge fees for requesting official informationTransparency campaigners ‘dismayed’ after the next information commissioner says the public should trust organisations
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsSarah Everard vigil: Police under fire over failure to keep meeting recordsPolice accused of being ‘allergic to public scrutiny’ after openDemocracy finds no notes taken at meetings before...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsMPs launch inquiry into UK government’s ‘opaque’ handling of FOI requestsA parliamentary committee will investigate the Cabinet Office after openDemocracy won transparency court case over...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: AnalysisFrom private emails to Post-it Notes: How politicians avoid scrutinyMatt Hancock, who Labour accused of trying to ‘conduct government business in secret’, joins a long list of...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsUK Parliament to investigate Michael Gove’s ‘Orwellian’ FOI unitPublic administration and constitutional affairs committee to launch inquiry in the wake of openDemocracy’s...
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Published in: Freedom of Information: NewsCampaigners, MPs demand investigation into UK government's secretive FOI unitThe National Union of Journalists, Campaign for Freedom of Information and others call for inquiry in wake of...
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Published in: Live discussionsWhat will be left of the BBC in 2028?
