Tony Blair regarded the FoI Act as one of his greatest mistakes as prime minister

cross-posted from: https://lemmings.world/post/18709323

Ministers in Tony Blair’s government were advised to use Post-it notes for sensitive messages to avoid having to release them under new Freedom of Information, according newly-released official files.

The Labour government had originally passed the Freedom of Information Act in 2000 but as the full implementation date approached on January 1 2005 there was growing disquiet among ministers and senior officials at the implications.

  • rhythmisaprancer@moist.catsweat.com
    0·
    2 months ago

    I work for the US gov’t (in a very different capacity), and know folks who won’t write anything down, and will only talk in person or maybe on the phone. They will send a message to meet in their office, or come to my room. I’m not even involved in sensitive stuff. Madness.

    • john89@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      Gonna have to start recording everything said while on the clock.

      Fuck this subversive bullshit.

    • Saleh@feddit.orgEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      That sounds quite illegal/against codes. Government agencies usually want a papertrail solely for their internal accountability and documentation. Of course there can be stuff “off the record”, but when it comes to decisionmaking, there should be some reason given on the record and that reason better looks plausible enough.

    • prole@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      Yep, and others do the exact opposite, insist on having a paper trail for everything in case some bullshit gets pinned on them.

      Good indicator of their honesty level.