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a question from an ignorant american

shirtless, beepers and suntans

23:38 / 18.03.02

for the brits and other europeans on this board: does your country have open meeting or public records laws at either the national or local level?

i live in florida, which probably has the most progressive open government laws (for now anyway), and i was just wondering what things are like on the other side.

w1rebaby

23:38 / 18.03.02

enjoy it while you can

the UK has lamentable freedom of information laws, only local government seems to be even slightly open - and only the bits which don't actually matter. Unless I'm just being cynical.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

10:53 / 19.03.02

My experience has always been that you don't know what rights you had until the Government announce a criminal justice bill that takes them away.

The only way to have influence at national level is either to be a multimillionaire donator or to be one of Blair's focus groups.

Local council meetings are sometimes open to the public to watch, but I don't think they can be involved in those.

SMS

13:15 / 20.03.02

quote:Originally posted by Loz' Sweet Exile:
The only way to have influence at national level is either to be a multimillionaire donator or to be one of Blair's focus groups.

Don't you people vote? Or maybe run for office? Or even start campaigns for public awareness of particular issues?

Maybe that was not your point. It just sounded a bit helpless, when there are ways to influence the national government even if it is less than ideal.

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