Ministers tried to block publication of financial interests form
The Cabinet Office spent £30,000 on a legal battle to prevent the publication of a questionnaire for ministers that required them to disclose their financial interests. The government argued that making the information public would undermine the "safe space" needed for policy development. However, a freedom of information tribunal ruled that the questionnaire should be released, stating that the public interest in transparency outweighed the government's concerns. The ruling highlighted the ongoing tension between the government's desire for privacy and the public's right to know about potential conflicts of interest among ministers. This case raises questions about the balance between confidentiality and accountability in the policymaking process, and the extent to which the public should have access to information about the financial interests of those in power.
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