All official meetings with the Prime Minister are published

A major breakthrough in Freedom of Information rules has happened today, thanks to the tireless work of Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman and FOI expert.

The Information Tribunal has forced Downing Street to release the names of every official, adviser and minister met by the Prime Minister in "internal meetings" during the period of one month.

Their rather scathing judgements against the way the Cabinet Office handled the requests can be found here.

The month in question was June 2005, when Tony Blair was Prime Minister: one month after the general election when Britain was vigorously campaigning to win the 2012 Olympic games and preparing for the summit in Gleneagles.

The Cabinet Office has put the information out today here.

The Cabinet Office description of the information is: Individuals met by the then Prime Minister in June 2005 - [released] December 2008. Following a ruling by the Information Tribunal the Cabinet Office released information on the Prime Minister's meetings in June 2005.

It is broken down into two sections: "internal meetings" with civil servants and ministers, and then meetings with "external" figures, such as Nancy Dell'Ollio. 

What else does it show?

** That Blair met Gordon Brown four times (outside of Cabinet meetings) in Downing Street during the month - less than John Prescott, then deputy Prime Minister, who he saw five times. He saw Jack Straw three times, Alan Johnson and Ruth Kelly just once.

** He only saw key adviser John Birt once - a month before it emerged Birt was going to work for CapGemini.

** He met Cardinal Murphy O'Connor BEFORE the switch to Catholicism.

But who is missing? No sign of chats with Alastair Campbell, for instance.

** Blair held meetings with the unions, and a delegation from IBM.

But there is no sign of plenty of people you might expect - Alastair Campbell, perhaps. And this doesn't include phone calls and - presumably - "social" meetings.

Nevertheless this is a good day for FOI...

Comments

[BlairSupporter]

What a load of time-wasting nonsense from the FOI "expert" Lamb. Is this what Norman Lamb's constituents elect him for?

Btw, there is no need to repeat the Alastair Campbell mention. We got the hint first time!

What's next? Another appeal by the wolf in lamb's clothing? Blair to the Tower for hiding Campbell?

Come on!

[Labourboy]

None of this is remotely in the interests of the public over the right for a politician to conduct business without having to reveal every little detail.

He had meetings. Wow.

Unless he breaks the law this is rather unneeded.

[Matthew Cain]

Why is this a good thing? If this ruling is properly enacted, it will limit a minister's ability to govern properly.

Instead, of course, civil servants and ministers will go to elaborate to evade the ruling - resulting in the further discrediting of politics.

[Bishop Hill]

Funny how Labour supporters are suddenly less keen on freedom of information!

[M]

This FOI ruling tells the public absolutely nothing useful. What of substance have we actually learned from the information published? Nothing. The only outcome is that it enables politically immature politicians and journalists to engage in mindless speculation about why he met some people but not others, what was discussed, etc.

Opposition politicians and journalists love FOI because it allows them to trade in such tittle tattle, but the democratic benefit of such information is less clear - particularly in light of the potential deadening effect on the conduct of government.

[John Page]

Did you ask Mr Lamb why he requested the information in the first place and what he has learned from it?

[Chuck Unsworth]

Sam, this is not a good day for FOI. It is merely direct confirmation that the whole process is a charade and that having established the rules of the game the Government is using every method of not abiding by them.

All this nonsense about Freedom of Information is shown for what it really is - a means of control and suppression.

[jon dee]

Well done Norman Lamb MP.
When we finally get a full and proper enquiry into the Iraq War,I hope your initiative might complement any legal requirements in evidence.

[andrew Smith]

The politicos made a big song and dance of introducing the FOI so they deserve to suffer the consequences. If they had been less secretive and more honest and accurate with data it might not have been needed.

[rick]

And the meetings on billionaires yachts?
Nu labour traitors.....

[Derek Holmes]

With all this FOI malarky ministers will have to be wary about telling lies and if this happens then how will they govern? We all know the old saying: there's lies, damned lies and then there's politicians.

[j]

Knowledge is the greatest power. We just dont give enough significance to it. It can act as a deterrent to the government to act in a more effective way and creates transparency for the public to see what is happening. You never know what you may tumble across.Maybe it will also lower litigation in this particular area. Many advantages we shouldn't take for granted.