The FoI Act already contains quite enough exemptions to be getting on with. Some would say there are too many, with some justification.

There’s a serious point of principle at stake in this particular case.

Taxpayers have an inalienable right to scrutinise the way that public funds – that’s our money, boys and girls – are being spent.

Certain members of Parliament, in both Houses, were unhappy that details of their expenses claims were being placed in the public domain after being obtained under the FoI Act. Hence the Private Members Bill to exempt such details from release in the future.

“If you’ve nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear”….. that’s what politicians always tell us when concerns about issues like identity cards and CCTV surveillance are raised, isn’t it? Strangely, the same principle doesn’t seem have to been applied here.

Some mistake, surely?:diablo: