Veil of secrecy surrounding Charles’ lobbying must be lifted

In recent days the controversy over Prince Charles’ lobbying of government ministers and his private interference in the affairs of state reached a head when it was revealed that he had written directly to ministers in eight Whitehall departments over the last three years. Charles’ advisers are also said to have pressed senior cabinet ministers [...]

A follow-up letter to John Gummer: Royal FOI exemption

John Gummer is MP for Suffolk Coastal. Submitted via WriteToThem.com, 17/12/2009: Dear John Gummer, Yesterday I wrote to ask you to support the call for greater openness and accountability in relations between the monarch and government by signing Early Day Motion (EDM) 83 which calls for the Royal Family’s exemption from the Freedom of Information [...]

A letter to John Gummer MP: EDM 83

John Gummer is MP for Suffolk Coastal. Submitted via WriteToThem.com, 16/12/2009: Dear John Gummer, I am writing to ask you to support the call for greater openness and accountability in relations between the monarch and government by signing Early Day Motion (EDM) 83 which calls for the Royal Family’s exemption from the Freedom of Information [...]

Political transparency is more important than Election Night Special

Some good news.  The number of MPs signing Early Day Motion (EDM) 83, calling for the removal of the royal family’s exemption from the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, is continuing to rise.  Today the total has broken through the 50 barrier to lie at 52 57!  It’s heartening that this important issue is gaining [...]

The royal family: scrutiny not secrecy

The queen’s recent demand for the press to give her and her family some privacy over their Christmas break at Sandringham is understandable.  It won’t make a jot of difference, though.  Whether they like it or not, media outlets the world over will pay hard cash for images of the royal family. Pictures of the [...]

Take action on Freedom of Information and the Royal Family

Because the monarchy is not recognised as a public institution, the royal family is exempt from the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. That means there are restrictions placed on access to important information about the workings of the monarchy and the royal family that we are entitled to know about. In some circumstances, documents can [...]