First Minister John Swinney has often boasted about running a ‘transparent’ administration – even though he has personally blocked the release of documents relating to whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the ministerial code.
Now John Swinney has the chance to prove he runs the most “transparent” SNP administration by voting to revamp freedom of information laws.
But it is likely that the Scottish Government will vote to have the Bill thrown out and use the upcoming Holyrood elections as their excuse for strengthening legislation around the openness and transparency laws.
Her proposals include extending FOI obligations to private and third-sector bodies – they include West Dunbartonshire Council – delivering public services, strengthening the enforcement powers of the Scottish Information Commissioner, and limiting the First Minister’s ability to override decisions ordering the release of information.
In West Dunbartonshire, the council have banned The Dumbarton Democrat from speaking direct to its officers through the Communications department, headed up by former Lennox Herald journalist Amanda Graham.
Her bill would also make it a criminal offence for politicians and officials to deliberately or recklessly erase WhatsApp messages and other communications relating to government business. But the SNP Government has been reluctant to back it, instead insisting it has the “strongest” FOI laws in the UK.
First Minister John Swinney and his controversial predecessor Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Swinney and Ms Sturgeon were just two of the government figures who wiped their personal correspondence relating to the Covid pandemic and would have been breaking the law under this legislation.
The First Minister would also face stronger action for blocking the release of documents, as he is now over evidence gathered about whether his predecessor breached the ministerial code during Holyrood’s Alex Salmond Inquiry.
Ms Clark accused the SNP of presiding over a “Secret Scotland” as she told the [Glasgow] Herald: “The government’s disgraceful refusal to release the Salmond papers is living proof that Scotland is falling behind on freedom of information laws on the SNP’s watch.
“On Tuesday [tomorrow], MSPs have the opportunity to break with the ‘Secret Scotland’ that John Swinney’s party has presided over for nearly 20 years.
“The SNP is fighting on all fronts to block the release of the Salmond papers in the face of public outrage. The government is blatantly trying to sweep this scandal under the carpet by hiding behind Scotland’s existing freedom of information laws that are simply not fit for purpose.
“Holyrood has a final chance before the elections in May to end that disastrous approach and strengthen the public’s right to know about the work of government and public bodies. Critically, if parliament votes to change the law on Tuesday, it would scrap the First Minister’s veto over freedom of information, something that John Swinney has repeatedly refused to rule out using to prevent the release of the Salmond papers.
Top of page: The Scottish Parliament where too much goes on in secrecy – “democracy dies in darkness”.