What freedom of information? (UK)

[cal04]

Ministers are accused of scuppering right-to-know legislation

Labour's flagship freedom of information laws are being blocked by ministers who are increasingly refusing to answer routine inquiries about government policy, new figures show.

Seven government departments, including the department in charge of monitoring the new powers, are identified in a Whitehall report as refusing to give answers to more than half of all requests made by the public.

(snip)
Requests, officially denied
Can we see all the documents, memos and e-mails supporting the Attorney General's advice on the legality of the war in Iraq?

The Government finally published the written advice earlier this year after it was leaked to the media. But some of the other documents have been withheld on the grounds of professional legal privilege which protects disclosure of advice between the Attorney General and his client, in this case the Government.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article2108210.ece

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Note to British Bretheren:

As a former resident of Britain, I cannot believe you people are putting up with what is happening there. It has the look and feel of nascent authoritarianism and totalitarianism. Now, I know that the US has many, many faults. Our skirts are hardly clean. That said, what is happening there? Is there any real opposition to what is going down?

It is so strange to see what is happening.

[dave_p]

2. No hope from that quarter

The problem in Britain is that the mainstream "left" party's the one presiding over this mosedive into Bushism. So most of those who might be expected to fight it just squeak politely and then clam up through fear of letting the opposition Conservatives back in. Those who've given up on "New Labour" (five million judging by the plunge in voter turnout at Blair's two re-elections) haven't the unity to build a credible alternative, and Britain doesn't like alternatives - least of all ones that threaten the "special relationship". And they do like to have someone telling them what to do - a chap needs to know where he stands.