Blair Regrets Passing Freedom of Information Law

[cal04]

Source: NY Times

Poised on the brink of power, Tony Blair made an impassioned vow: Britain's jealously-held culture of official secrecy would be dramatically swept away.

Fifteen years later, the country has a thriving right to information law, with almost 44,000 requests made last year, and recently announced it would accept demands for government data posted using Twitter. So former prime minister Blair must now reflect with pride on delivering his promise?

(snip)
"You can't run government without being able to have confidential discussions with people on issues that are of profound importance," a rueful Blair told The Associated Press in an interview. "What happens in the end is that you make politicians very nervous of actually debating things honestly, because they're worried about what's going to happen when there's a FOI request."

Critics suspect that his change of mind reflects an unease at the public response to the Iraq war, and his realization — seemingly shortly after he took office — that the information law could expose activities by his party that voters may find unacceptable.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/11/17/world/europe/AP-Access-Denied-Blairs-Regret.html?hp

[truthisfreedom]

1. Obviously FOIs need some limitations. I have no idea how Britain's FOI law is written but

I'm absolutely sure that FOI in the US is limited.

[Little Tich]

2. He can regret it all he wants. Improving democracy an preventing politicians from lying is still a

good thing.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Neo-con.

[No Elephants]

8. Close. Third Way. From the bio of Al From on the website of the Democratic Leadership Council

"In 1998, with First Lady Hillary Clinton, From began a dialogue with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other world leaders, and the DLC brand -- known as The Third Way -- became a model for resurgent progressive governments around the globe. In April 1999, he hosted an historic Third Way forum in Washington with President Clinton, Prime Minister Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Prime Ministers Wim Kok of the Netherlands and Massimo D'Alema of Italy.

In November 1999, joining President Clinton, From moderated the first-ever live Presidential town hall meeting on the Internet.

Before founding the DLC, From was executive director of the House Democratic Caucus, where he played a pivotal role in revitalizing that venerable institution."

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=1131&kaid=86&subid=191

[LeighAnn]

4. Where's the regret for the "sexed up" dossier

Remember the "dossier" that convinced the world's gullible that Saddam Hussein could attack Britain in 45 minutes? Without Blair's green light, there would have been no "coalition of the killing".
In fact, I can think of a number of things he should be regretting... with all the power and adoration he enjoyed in his first years he really could have made the world a better place. Instead he threw his lot in with W's Carlyle Group and now he regrets "Sunshine Laws"?

[T_i_B]

9. Oh he'll never admit that was wrong.

Trouble is that the Iraq war is what people will remember him for whether he likes it or not and it is one issue where he failed the British people in a big way.

[tuvor]

5. "You make politicians very nervous of actually debating things honestly."

Now there's a fucked-up lament.

[boppers]

6. Yeah, and he probably doesn't even understand his own words.

If a FOI request is going to embarrass you, it's probably something you shouldn't be saying... That's not a FOI problem, that's a "hey, I know this is wrong" thing.

[saras]

7. Typical of Blair - he only regrets things with a good side

[Javaman]

10. the little poodle yaps. nt

[truebrit71]

11. In other words, all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others...

...what a desperate little tosser he is...

[Arugula Latte]

12. Is he retrospectively trying to out-Thatcher Thatcher?

To think I once admired him ... long, long ago.