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MPs condemn UK government's ‘abuse’ of taxpayer money to fight FOIs

Exclusive: Government accused of ‘misusing’ vast sums after openDemocracy revealed half a million pounds was spent on legal costs to fight information releases

By Adam Bychawski
MPs condemn UK government's ‘abuse’ of taxpayer money to fight FOIs
Labour’s Angela Rayner accused the government of ‘contempt for basic standards of honesty’ | Gary Calton / Alamy Stock Photo
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MPs have accused the UK government of misusing public funds by spending ‘eye-watering figures’ fighting to keep information secret in court.

Over the past five years, government departments spent at least half a million pounds on efforts to prevent the release of information under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, openDemocracy revealed on Tuesday.

“Ministers should not be abusing taxpayers’ money to block information from being released under Freedom of Information,” Labour Party deputy leader Angela Rayner told openDemocracy.

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