Open government
What the Natioanl Archives tell us about Tony Blair and the royal family
Freedom of information “is about to hit”, Sir Tony Blair was warned by a Downing Street official 21 years ago. But government preparations for public access to official documents from the beginning of 2005 were “patchy”, we learn from newly-released ministerial papers. Only five years later, the former prime minister was to describe the Freedom of Information Act as a blunder.
Freedom of information provides a fascinating insight into the workings of government. So does the annual release by the National Archives of official documents after 20 years or more.
One file opened today recounts a spat in 2002 between the then editor of the Daily Telegraph and Blair’s director of communications over a false allegation that the prime minister had tried to “hijack” the Queen Mother’s funeral. Another official document that caught my eye records the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 and the events that followed in Paris.
About to hit
Blair was warned about freedom of information preparations by his private secretary Daniel Thornton, now a director at the World Health Organisation. As can be seen from the minute below, Thornton recommended the PM’s message to his cabinet should be one of “solidarity”:
