Freedom to bore even the bureaucrats
Sadly, some MPs are not happy that Freedom of Information actually applies to them. It appears that today’s trendy buzzwords - ‘transparency’ and ‘partnership’ (it seems virtually impossible to write a press release without including at least one of them!) have created administrative problems beyond belief for some of those in government who signed up to these principles in the first place.
If, as The Observer states, freedom of information is one of Blair’s ‘discreet’ transformations of Britain then why are so many trying to now back away from it? It was inevitable that the media, in particular, would use the Freedom Information Act to obtain and scrutinise details of the often tedious goings-on in public life that were previously very much behind-the scenes. If Blair really wants to have a legacy that you don’t have to use a microscope to see (as per one of the best Private Eye covers in recent months) he could do a lot worse than point to Freedom of Information. Now we just need some sensible journalists who will actually focus on the big picture when it comes to politics rather than inconsequential nitty gritty…. (Did someone say ‘dream on…’?)