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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]