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Newspaper of the Campaign for Freedom of Information No.17

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Newspaper of the Campaign for Freedom of Information No.17 New spaper af the Cam pa ign fo r Freedom of Information Number Number 17 May 1989 70% of MPs suppqJport Call1paign'! call for reform (j111 of the Lobby The Campaign for Freedom of Infor­ kite, and if the react ion to the idea is BBC and lTV that minist. mation has extended its activit ies to bad, they can drop it. Or it is unat­ not be allowed to dictate th cover reform of the lobby system , the tributable to counter another unat­ of appearances. Where the. exposure of media manipulation, and tributable briefing given by the Prime to appear in serious discus: research into and publicity of abuse of ~ign Minister or other ministers. Often they major policy issues, thei Whitehall information resources . want to spread mis-information, either should be left vacant. The gn f by untruths, or by misrepresentations In a major speech at the House of ' . should be told that, of cou Commons, Des Wilson, co-chairman of facts, and want to cover their back. Minister or his representativ of the Campaign for Freedom of In­ "It is surely a relatively safe max­ had the opportunity to ap .~ "'~ im that whenever someone says "don't formation, said that the absence of fl'. 4.A radical overhau l of the freedom of, information legislation ;,.~ I n n f o quote me on this ..." there's at least Whitehall information offie and the enactment of even tighter a chance they are either breaking a information expend iture. secrecy legislation mean t that the confidence, saying something that they In his speech Des Wilson ~ publ ic were increasingly dependent on are unsure will stand up, lying, or in that the Campaign was not ant the media, yet in many ways the media some other way acting dishono urably. but deeply comm itted to a mel were part of the problem rather than "Furthermore, they are asking fulfilled a crucial role of infom the solution. newspapers to the n deliberately public. "The tragedy is that His call for reform of the lobby deceive their readers about the source allowed itself to be manoeuvr system was backed up by an un­ of the information. The use of the a positio n where it is increasirf precedented poll of backbenchers, words 'sources close to the minister' infor ming the public through il conducted by the Campaign with the when in fact the source is the minister t y, lazyness, or in some assistance of three MPs, Steve Norris himself, may be a small act of decep­ weak ness. It is of course, with (Conservative), Jeff Rooker (Labour) tion but its an act of deception just the cepticn of some of the tab loi: and Archy Kirkwood (Liberal same. Since when has it been the role papers , not deliberate particip Democrat). of jo urnalists to participa te in the mis-information - it's cock-uj Of nearly 200 replies, at the time persistent deception of their readers?" than conspiracy - but not less this newspaper went to press, 70% Des Wilson criticised radio and for that. " favoured some reform of the lobby television programmes for allowing system. ministers to dictate the terms of their . Des Wilson told the House of Com­ appearances, often refusing to par­ mons meeting that while there was "What is worrying is that the energy and resources lind resources devoted ticipate in debates with those who room for contention about the benefits to manipulation of the media, and to campaigns 0 campaigns of mis­ could most effectively challenge MPs say no or otherwise to Britain of a decade of policy. This helped ministers to spread Thatcherism, what was beyond doubt information, are far greater and far more damaginnore damaging than mis-information. ,'collective is that the ability of ordinary citizens ever before, and that the media, for all its ritual pnll its ritual protests, He wondered whether television to obtain adequate, objective informa­ and with a few notable exceptions, allows itself allows itself to be news editors and picture editors unattributa tion in order to make their own sometimes completely lost their critical judgements on the performance and manipulated with what I can only describe as shlescribe as shocking faculties when falling 'hook, line and briefing" policies of their public servants had ease" sinker' . for so-calle d photo­ been serious ly dimin ished. Des , Des Wilson opportunities that had no news value Of nearly 200 membe "While the rest of the democratic Lobby report - pages 2&3 whatsoever bur had been set up with parliament who respo world has moved towards greater the deliberate intention of creating a to a questionnaire abou freedom of information, we in Britain favourable impression. have moved towa rds greater secrecy . "The photo-opportunity has vir­ lobbysystem, an overwl Apart from a series of private Des Wilson said that while the bat­ the media, and to campaign: and to campaigns of mis­ tua lly nothing to do with information, ing majority have indi membe rs' bills, each promoted in the tle for a statutory 'right to know' information, are far greatenn, are far greater and far or news, and everyth ing to do with teeth of ministerial opposition, or ex­ would continue unabated, there were more damaging tha n ever befaging tha n ever before, and pro paganda .' , they wish to see reforr cessively mod ified under threat of new and serious prob lems to do with that the media, for all its ritedia, for all its ritua l pro­ Des Wilson argued that as it is Some 70"70 indicated defeat, the only legislation to do with information th at needed to be faced . tests, and with a few nctablwith a few notable excep­ unrealistic to expect politicians to would "support the en information passed by the Thatcher "It is always the case that those in tions, allows itself to be marws itself to be manipulated change the way they behave, it is up of the lobby system 01 administration has been to strengthen power will seek to not just con tro l in­ with what I can only describe acan only describe as shock­ to the media to protect its readers, the cont rol of information. formation, but also to release infor­ ing ease." listeners and viewers by app lying a lective unattribut "We have not failed to achieve matio n, or so-called information, in a Des Wilson said that at theson said that at the heart of more critical mind to its relationships briefing". freedom of information because of way most likely to be helpful to them. media man ipulation was theaipulation was the way the with politicians and to the distinction Altogether, at the tim political apathy. We have failed Not only is it a fact of life th at those lob by system operated. "Wem operated. "We do not between real information an d because of the determination of the in 'power seek to manipulate the call for a complete end to tlt omplete end to the lob by; misinformation. newspaper went to pres Prime Minister to refuse it. This is a media, to some extent it is unde rstan ­ there are sound reasons w sound reasons why there He criticised the way the media MPs had replied. Of t point that has to be stressed. Not on­ dab le. But what is worryi ng abo ut the should be accredited jo urnalaccredited jo urnalists who ' bought' a particular argument from 149wished to see the sy ly do we not have it, we have been told present situat ion is that the energy and have access to certain facilss to certain facilities, in­ a minister withou t in many cases "you will not have it'." resources devoted to man ipulation of cluding to those parts of the lthose parts of the House of checking to see whethe r it was true. reformed, 42 wishe Commons where they can ta where they can talk easily "By tak ing a particular line, and maintain the status quo to politicians, and be able tans, and be able to ob tain repeating it several times in one day advance copies of official pubp ies of official publications on radio and television, and having it 6 indicated that they dil etc in order to be able to con-r to be able to convey them appear in newspapers day after day , care one way or the 01 to the public at the earliest ilic at the earliest possible a minister can create public acceptance Of Conservative b moment. for a particular view tha t is simply un­ O.S.A.1989 "Wha t I believe has becorl believe has become unac­ true". Des Wilson cited the way tha t benchers a small maj ceptable is the concept of reg! the concept of regular mass the Home Secretary had kept stress­ favoured reformed - 4 The Official Secrets Bill dures. un attributable br iefings,table br iefings, where ing that the Official Secrets Acts 1989 reform, 40 for status ministers and spokesmen drand spokesmen draw jour­ took major areas of information ou t has passed both the House It was pushed past the nalists into what one can only what one can only describe of the prot ection of criminal law and and 4 did not have SPI of Commons and the Commons by the use of a as an unstated consp iracy to ated consp iracy to influence kept using phrases like "an un­ views . Lords. It contains no three-line whip despite the public opi nion. nion. precedented step towards greater Of 98 Labour MP! •'Notice, I do not say a cc, I do not say a conspirary ope nness" to imply that the informa­ public interest defence and fact that Home Office to inform.
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