Top news today: FoI, party donors, third runway
Author: Zoe Stavri
Published on Sep 20, 2012
In the news today, Alex Salmond faces the Scottish Information Commissioner in court, political parties are not complying with a law passed in 2009 to stop them accepting large donations from non-dom donors, Boris Johnson is supporting a referendum for a third runway at Heathrow, and the number of high-paid civil servants has fallen.
ALEX SALMOND SET FOR FIGHT WITH INFORMATION WATCHDOG AS SECRECY COMPLAINTS DOUBLE - Alex Salmond will face Scotland’s Information Commissioner in court today after he refused to release information as to whether he had sought legal advice on an independent Scotland’s place in the EU. This comes after the Information Commissioner’s report that rights to freedom of information have been eroded. How can we make government more open?
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/alex-salmond-set-for-fight-with-information-1333557
Our view: http://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/blog/entry/protect-our-right-to-freedom-of-information
PARTIES DILLY-DALLY OVER DONATIONS LAW - In 2009, a law was passed to stop donations to parties accepting donations and loans of over £7500 from non-domiciled donors. Parties are still failing to act on this legislation. How can this law be better enforced?
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3543798.ece (paywall)
BORIS BACKS REFERENDUMS ON THIRD HEATHROW RUNWAY - Richmond Council- whose residents live under the Heathrow flight path- wants to ballot people on plans for a third runway at the airport. Boris Johnson has come out in support of this proposed referendum. Does this move represent democratic aspirations, or is it a smart political manoeuvre?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2205566/Boris-Johnson-backs-London-referendums-Heathrow-warns-David-Cameron-runway-foolish.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-mobilising-and-alerting-people-of-london-over-heathrow-third-runway-8157169.html
CIVIL SERVANTS PAID OVER £150k A YEAR TUMBLES BY 37 PER CENT IN TWO YEARS - The number of senior civil servants with salaries greater than that of the Prime Minister has fallen by more than a third since 2010. How will this change impact the functioning of the civil service?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9553648/Exclusive-Civil-servants-paid-over-150k-a-year-tumbles-by-37-per-cent-in-two-years.html