News2 mins ago
Will we ever learn the truth?
8 Answers
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/86221 /Straw-will-veto-quot-Iraq-minutes
The Government will exercise veto powers to block publication of key Cabinet minutes under freedom of information laws, it has been announced.
'freedom of information' / 'veto powers to block publication of key Cabinet minutes' ?????
Surely this is a contradiction of terms?
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he could not permit the release of records from 2003 discussions over the invasion of Iraq because it would cause too much "damage" to democracy.
'Cause too much damage to democracy'??????
Does he mean there is no such thing?
The Government will exercise veto powers to block publication of key Cabinet minutes under freedom of information laws, it has been announced.
'freedom of information' / 'veto powers to block publication of key Cabinet minutes' ?????
Surely this is a contradiction of terms?
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he could not permit the release of records from 2003 discussions over the invasion of Iraq because it would cause too much "damage" to democracy.
'Cause too much damage to democracy'??????
Does he mean there is no such thing?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by anotheoldgit. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.He has just announced this in the commons. Strangely after a lot of bluster the opposition spokesman agreed with it. The problem about the Iraq war was the decision was not really made in cabinet but in Tony Blairs sofa government where just a few of the ministers were present and was rubber stamped afterwards by the cabinet.
We will never get the true story as this sofa government will have no written records or minutes made. That is why Gordon Brown said that these type of decisions will be made by the House of Commons.
We will never get the true story as this sofa government will have no written records or minutes made. That is why Gordon Brown said that these type of decisions will be made by the House of Commons.
Interesting that it was a Labour Government that decided to release the Cabinet minutes of the Conservative Government when their subject was the Exchange Rate Mechanism. Only a cynic would think that they released those to embarrass the Conservatives and make political capital ! Having set that precedent the current Labour Government has decided that releasing minutes is not a good idea after all.!
Surely it is good sense that Cabinet minutes be not released. Members of the cabinet might find it difficult to have a proper debate if they had to think all the time about everything they said being made public.
Surely it is good sense that Cabinet minutes be not released. Members of the cabinet might find it difficult to have a proper debate if they had to think all the time about everything they said being made public.
I think it highlights just how secretive government decisions are in this country. I accept there is a need for a degree of secrecy with regards to matters of national security, but I do believe there is a culture at Whitehall generally that is not always in tune with my own idea of an open and free democracy. I would like to know how secretive we are in comparison with other nations. I would suspect, more so.