Suspended Reform UK MP James McMurdock had two of his companies blocked from winding up because they had failed to pay back taxpayer-backed Covid loans, The Times can reveal after a 20-month FOI battle. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Suspended Reform MP’s company closures halted over Covid loans

Disclosure over the businesses of James McMurdock raises further questions about candidate vetting and financial conduct

thetimes.com

Public opinion does make a difference. We talked to @infocommission.bsky.social and found out how they've improved transparency around sewage spills - and it started with increased complaints about water companies: www.mysociety.org/2026/07/30/t...

The ICO brings increased transparency around sewage discharge

The EIR is a similar set of rights to those we have under Freedom of Information, but specifically give access to environmental information held by public authorities. Those who remember reading abou...

mysociety.org

📢Our next training course on effective use of the #FOIA is scheduled for next Wednesday 29th July via Zoom. Please see this link for booking details ⬇️ www.cfoi.org.uk/2026/02/usin...

A reminder you can listen to my podcast interview with Ibrahim Hasan of Act Now Training - we discussed how journalists use FOI, tactics for requesting, how the law should be improved, fighting tribunal cases, and some of my favourite stories ... actnowtraining.blog/2026/05/27/n...

New Podcast: Learning from a Journalist’s Use of FOI

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) is an essential tool for the journalist seeking to  hold public institutions to account. But for those handling FOI requests from journalists, the challeng…

actnowtraining.blog

🚨Reminder: FOI Requester Training 🚨 In search of guidance on raising an FOI request? There is still time to sign up to our next 'Using the FOI Act' online course for requesters. Wednesday 29th July 2026 from 10am to 4pm. Secure your space here www.cfoi.org.uk/2026/02/usin...

If you would like to be more effective in your #FOI requests, please consider our next training course on 29th July. Book here ⬇️ www.cfoi.org.uk/2026/02/usin...

📣The newly published Part 5 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report contains significant findings on transparency and accountability. Especially on the scale of public money wasted and the role that FOIs played in bringing information into the open. covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/u...

From the Hallett Covid Inquiry report on procurement published today

Very good speech in Commons today by @sianberry.bsky.social, launching her 10-minute rule bill to end the royal FOI exemption and bring the Royal Family, Royal Household, Royal Archives, and Duchies of Cornwall & Lancaster under the FOI Act - won't make progress sadly but a very necessary measure

📢Making an #FOI request is straightforward, but making an effective request can be more difficult. We are running an online training course on the 29th July with practical guidance. Book here ⬇️ www.cfoi.org.uk/2026/02/usin...

📣Use FOI to improve your research, campaigning, or journalism. CFOI has been training requesters for over 20 years. Our next course will be online on 29/07/2026. The session will illustrate why some FOIs succeed and others fail. Book here ⬇️ www.cfoi.org.uk/2026/02/usin...

Excellent opportunity to join an organisation doing brilliant work!

mySociety@mysociety.org · last mo.

WE'RE HIRING! Data protection, media law, online communities, and FOI: if that sounds like your jam, you might be just the person we're looking for as mySociety's new Digital Service Manager. See the details and apply here: apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/... And please do share!

⚖️ Understand your FOI rights! Our next FOI requester training course on July 29th is aimed at newcomers and those who want to make more effective requests. You will have the opportunity to draft your own and get feedback on it. Book here ⬇️ www.cfoi.org.uk/2026/02/usin...

Prof Sir Anthony Finkelstein has been appointed as independent reviewer of the use of non-corporate communications channels like WhatsApp www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Ministers launch review of ‘non-corporate comms channels’ in government

Former chief scientific adviser for national security Anthony Finkelstein will lead probe

civilserviceworld.com

Nominations for the 2026 Helen Darbishire Award are invited to celebrate those who use access 2 information rights to advance human rights, the rule of law, transparency & government accountability, anti-corruption efforts, or environmental protection. @nujscotland.bsky.social

Application and Nomination Form

The Helen Darbishire Award recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right of access to information to advance human rights, the rule of law, transparency and government accountability, ...

docs.google.com

Over on the blog @alexparsons.bsky.social is doing what he does best - nicely explaining something quite niche but very important! What Parliament can learn from FOI, why MPs should be able to appeal refused PQs & some ideas for joining the dots ⬇️ www.mysociety.org/2026/06/16/i...

Improving FOI and Parliamentary Questions

Why does FOI work better than parliamentary questions? And how can we make both better?

mysociety.org

Organisation merch goals right?! This week our friends at SPOON in the Netherlands hosted our annual ATI Network day. We discussed what's helping (and hindering) freedom of information in practice, and why effective oversight matters just as much as having a good law.

What makes freedom of information work in practice? Reflections from ATI Day 2026

By continuing to learn from one another, we stand a much better chance of making the right to information work not just on paper, but in practice.

mysociety.org

📣Ten-minute rule Bill seeks greater royal transparency. Green MP proposes Royal Family be covered by FOIA. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Green MP seeks to end royal secrecy with Freedom of Information Act expansion

Sian Berry says the release of royal-related documents and data would be a ‘huge step for transparency’

independent.co.uk

The government seems to have backed away from kneecapping FOI, a PQ suggests. It was feared after briefings to the FT over cost and "China" security issues it would repeal FOI by the back door by using secondary legislation to slash cost limits questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

questions-statements.parliament.uk

A doctor stripped of his right to practise in Poland has been able to retain his UK medical licence because the General Medical Council is no longer being sent European warnings about banned doctors, The Times can reveal. www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

Doctors banned in EU use Brexit loophole to practise in UK

A Times investigation last year found Britain was no longer informed if a doctor had been struck off in Europe — and the blind spot is still being exploited

thetimes.com

📣Scottish Government guilty of contempt of court over FOI handling. Court of Session delivers notable precedent. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/e4eiei...

It was a disgrace that the Judicial Appointments Commission engaged in a direct attack on press freedom by seeking £14,000 costs from a journalist. The journalist had to take contempt of court proceedings against it for refusing to comply with an FOI. www.easterneye.biz/jac-loses-fi...

JAC loses fight to muzzle reporter over press freedoms

Journalists hail decision as victory for watchdog journalism despite criticism over accusations of judicial racism

easterneye.biz

Just reposting the blog on 'Government by WhatsApp' by me and @mrosenbaum.bsky.social for @politicalquarterly.bsky.social politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/governm...

Tony Blair on my radio doing full AI Silicon Valley boosterism Unrelatedly…. Tony Blair’s personal think tank has had or been pledged $350 million from Oracle boss Larry Ellison democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Inside the Tony Blair Institute

A former PM, Trump's 'CEO of everything' and NHS data - what could go wrong?

democracyforsale.substack.com

⚖️“Inexcusable” FOI failings cost Exeter University £15k. Upper Tribunal delivers sharp rebuke in four-year contempt case. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a0f1a...

"Most FOI officers are there to help you". @georgegreenwood.bsky.social is Investigations Reporter at the Times, and you can hear all of his 10 #FOI tips in 10 minutes, as shared at FOI Fest: www.mysociety.org/podcast/foi-...

Top tip from @benworthy.bsky.social - before you make a #FOI request, check no-one else has already asked for that info! And there are more tips where that came from: listen to Ben's full FOI Fest skills session here: www.mysociety.org/podcast/foi-...

The incredible Eleanor Shaikh continues to push for transparency around the #PostOfficeScandal - read the latest here (& how @dracos.co.uk's archive played a part) as she prepares to go to #FOI tribunal to uncover a potentially explosive piece of the puzzle: www.postofficescandal.uk/post/project...

Project Brisbane – a report the Post Office is desperate to keep secret

In January 2022 the researcher Eleanor Shaikh was poring over some written evidence submitted by the Business Department (then known as BEIS) to the Business Select Committee in March 2020. In an a…

postofficescandal.uk

One in eight people now start their #FOI with a chatbot. An ICO poll found 12% of sent a request after AI suggested it during research. For more, and some non-AI-assisted ideas:

Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 22/5/2026 – #FOIFriday - Words + Numbers

One in eight people say they’ve made a Freedom of Information request because AI suggested it when they were researching something.

clairemiller.net

The Cabinet Office kept no substantive report about the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s phone last year, nor of a report into allegations of bullying by Anotina Romeo, the cabinet secretary. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Cabinet Office kept no record of Morgan McSweeney phone theft report

Freedom of information disclosures show the department holds no paper trail on the stolen phone or bullying allegations against Dame Antonia Romeo

thetimes.com