Thursday 19 March 2009

Nats Want Freedom: Just Not Their Information

The double standards for the SNP have come to light again this time over the Freedom of Information.

Last month they were up in arms with Jack Straw about the UK Government's failure to release Cabinet papers in the run up to the Iraq war. However, when the Scotsman asked them to release the minutes of the Cabinet meeting on 10 February when the Cabinet decided to drop plans to ditch replacing Council Tax with LIT, nothing.

Taking Angus Robertson's words from last month.


"The public feels it was lied to about the reasons for going to war in Iraq, and those responsible must not be allowed to hide from an inquiry.

"This Cabinet cover up is typical of the Labour government’s attitude to freedom of information.

"....Those responsible have never answered the most fundamental questions about why we were led into this war.

"The claim that the war was about weapons of mass destruction was a lie, a mere cover story unsupported by the facts, which has cost the lives of thousands of civilians and hundreds of our brave soldiers"

With a slight adjustment we can ask.

"The public feels it was lied to about the reasons for breaking this policy
pledged in 2007, and those responsible must not be allowed to hide from an
inquiry.

"This Cabinet cover up is typical of the SNP government’s attitude to freedom of information and the Scottish electorate.

"Those responsible have never answered the most fundamental questions about
why we were led away from this policy that they still protected staunchly weeks
before.

"The claim that the recession makes it impossible to bring about a fairer tax for the less well off is a lie, a mere cover story unsupported by the facts, which has cost thousands of pounds needlessly to those less able to pay the unfair council tax."


Update: I see that Jeff has taken the contrary view which I find discouraging for a supporter of a party that only wants Open Government (to quote the Jim Hacker plan on this issue) on things that suit itself. It is not a case of either or. If you want to utilise FoI legislation for gaining info you have to also be prepared to tender information when requested.

I suspect that the Scotsman already know what happened in those cabinet meetings and are merely wanting to get the official minute before publication. A dangerous game for the Nats to play.

4 comments:

  1. Don't get your last sentence Stephen. You say it's a lie unsupported by the facts yet you say you don't have the facts. So how do you know how much it cost or is it a guestimate?

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  2. I'm trying to adapt the context as closely as possible to fit Mr Roberston's original.

    It is the cost to the individual I am referring to at the very end not the Government if that makes it clearer.

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  3. Aye that makes it clearer thanks. I agree with Jeff about this. There is a great difference between Jack Straw's situation and the Scotsman wanting minutes of a general cabinet meeting.

    I could never see any political party publishing cabinet meeting minutes unless they were vital to the security of the country (as the Iraq war decision was) and if these minutes were to be made available to the public, then cabinet meetings would not be the healthy governmental discussions they should be.

    Would the liberals publish cabinet meetings?

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  4. Yep, just to clear any confusion. If the UK Cabinet were to discuss local taxation then I don't think the minutes should be released.

    The Iraq War? Different kettle of fish but I can still appreciate Jack Straw's arguments the other way.

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