The New Dark Age

21 July 2015 — 38 Degrees

Cover ups. Government scandals. Most have been exposed using Freedom of Information laws designed to keep democracy open. [1] But now ministers are plotting to stifle these laws. [2]

Freedom of Information exposed the MPs’ expenses crisis. Unless there’s a huge public outcry against the government’s plans, our right to know what they’re up to could be scrapped.

50,000 of us have already signed a petition to kickstart a huge, people-powered campaign to protect freedom of information. Can you join other 38 Degrees members and sign the petition now? It only takes ten seconds to sign – then together, we can step up the pressure:

Freedom of information means campaigners, the media and ordinary people can hold the government to account and expose political cover-ups. [3]

Just last week, a Freedom of Information request revealed that UK pilots were involved in bombing in Syria. [4] And another exposed that a third of NHS contracts were being handed-out to private companies. [5]

38 Degrees is a movement of people fighting to make democracy work. We hold our politicians to account and influence decision makers to make choices that benefit us all. If you believe we all have the right to know what our government’s doing in our name, please add your name to the petition now:

Thanks for being involved,

Rebecca, Maddy, Cara, Amy and the 38 Degrees team

NOTES:
[1] BBC News: 10 things we found out because of Freedom of Information:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30645383
[2] The Independent: The end of FoI? ‘Right to know’ in peril as Government targets Freedom of Information:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-end-of-foi-right-to-know-in-peril-as-government-targets-freedom-of-information-10397935.html
The Guardian: Freedom of Information Act review ‘may curb access to government papers’:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/17/ministers-to-review-freedom-of-information-act
[3] The Telegraph: FOI must stay free:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11749780/FOI-must-stay-free.html
The Independent i100: The government wants to abolish the Freedom of Information Act. Here’s why that’s a terrible idea:
http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/the-government-wants-to-abolish-the-freedom-of-information-actheres-why-thats-a-terrible-idea–bylV_A99GXe
[4] The Guardian: David Cameron knew UK pilots were bombing Isis in Syria:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/17/david-cameron-knew-uk-pilots-were-bombing-isis-in-syria
[5] BBC News: A third of NHS contracts awarded to private firms – report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30397329