Freedom of Information

Yesterday Government has issued a statement saying, it has given instructions to disclose documents held in the archives for public access. The access to these documents will be limited to files going back twenty years.

But freedom of information, isn’t as free as one may think, there are restrictions on specific files or documents, the Government stating “that they deal with sensitive issues relating to former politicians who remain alive or are, in some form or other, still active in public life.  

The statement goes on to say, “Some of these files contain Special Branch reports of a highly sensitive and of personal nature and The practice in the UK is to withhold public access to files which (ultimately in the Home Secretary's opinion) may have adverse impact on national security or which may be personally damaging to individuals active in public life.”

My question is, who are we protecting, why do they need protection? What has been going on in the last twenty years that requires selective closure on records that the Archivist or Judges deem to be detrimental to National Security, or an individual’s personal integrity? Are we not accountable for our actions whether we are ordinary citizens or former politicians?

Ed.