Letter to EADT – Public Interest vs Prince’s Interest

13 March 2010

To The Editor, East Anglian Daily Times

Dear Mr Hunt

There has been a lot of talk over the past year about “cleaning-up” politics. The government has promised more transparency with its Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill.

The Bill contains an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act: at present, we may see correspondence between the royal family and politicians if there is a public interest in releasing the material. Under the new amendment, any communications from the monarch, the heir to the throne, and the second in line will be completely exempt. In short, the royal family’s interest will always take precedence over the British public’s.

We live in a constitutional monarchy, a system that requires the monarch to remain outside of politics. The Queen, and Charles as heir to the throne, the palace says, must maintain an appearance of impartiality. This bill however, ensures that royal lobbying will remain secret for many years. This does not promote or protect royal impartiality, in fact it ensures that they can go ahead and get as involved as they like.

What does the government want to hide if it is happy to reveal cabinet papers, but not correspondence with the royals? Voters have a right to know if decisions are being made in the public’s interest or in the prince’s interest.

yours sincerely

Pauline Godfrey

www.suffolkcoastalrepublic.org

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