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

Great to be in Cardiff for the @datajusticelab.bsky.social conference! Say hi if you're here 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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...

On the train back to Glasgow now - but a great excuse to talk about FOI, Parliamentary transparency and AI at the same time. Thread walking between the links.

📺 Starting soon! @alexparsons.bsky.social, @benworthy.bsky.social & @jennacorderoy.bsky.social are giving evidence to the Procedure committee about Written Parliamentary Questions and FOI. Tune in here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

In my experience going through MPs' registered interests for whofundsthem.com, this rule that covers the 12 months before being elected isn't well enforced, but the rule itself is pretty clear!

Really worth stressing what a minority position "the gambling industry is good" is.

And this is really the core of the mySociety approach through WhatDoTheyKnow or FixMyStreet - by making FOI requests or pothole reports visible in public, it transforms private interactions into collective benefits that reduce the need for future interactions.

Super smart stuff from @alexparsons.bsky.social (as always) here!

Response to a Parliamentary question from Mike Wood about the floated change to FOI cost limits www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?q=%2...

So the theme I want to look at this week is gifts received in a private capacity vs where there's some kind of professional justification

Both the Senedd and Scottish Parliament have now dissolved for the upcoming elections - but if you put your postcode into @theyworkforyou.com we're using @democracyclub.org.uk data to tell you more about candidates.

Round up by @juliacushion.bsky.social of the case against restricting FOI www.mysociety.org/2026/04/08/t...

The growing case to protect FOI www.mysociety.org/2026/04/08/t... Great summary by @juliacushion.bsky.social of responses to recent threats to freedom of information We, @mysociety.org & others are exploring what an FOI Network could look like Next online workshop: Wed 15 April luma.com/y12euvs2

great part time role going here at @mysociety.org! feel free to dm any questions etc! 🌀

In response to the anonymously-briefed article in the FT last week floating new restrictions to FOI, Alex Parsons breaks down what’s proposed, and why it’s not a good solution www.mysociety.org/2026/03/19/r...

With the rush to deploy #AI in both the public and private sectors, it's essential to stop & ask: 'Is this the right tool for the job?'. In this blog post, we lay out a simple model for checking just that. www.mysociety.org/2026/03/24/h...

Have written more about what FOI cost limits are, and the effects of lowering them www.mysociety.org/2026/03/19/r...

In yesterday's FT anonymous government officials talked of need to 'tighten' to FOI to stop China (!?!) The real story, though, is how much govt spending on legal fees to fight FOI requesters in court Campaigners, citizens, journalists all paying price democracyforsale.substack.com/p/government...

Even by the normal standards, a very weak case being made here. Almost all of the increase relates to records moving to the National Archives. www.ft.com/content/2c34...

Great points from @georgegreenwood.bsky.social here relightmyfoia.blog/2026/03/18/p...

Re last RT: making the ombudsman a good tool for systematic investigation (with good links to casework, but not an MP filter) - would be a good idea www.mysociety.org/2024/12/04/t...

It’s been a remarkable few weeks and this morning we’ve just hit 300 pledges 👏🏼 We wanted to share some of the messages we’ve received along the way. They’ve meant a huge amount.

Ok, so a few things to flag this week on foreign trips and freebies:

More on our open letter collection www.mysociety.org/2025/10/21/s...

“Freedom of information only works if you can find it” So why don’t gov depts proactively publish it? Then they won’t need to respond to requests. #FOIFest

The afternoon session of #FOIFest kicks off with the Scottish Information Commissioner 👇

Top tips - explain why you want the info. Don’t be afraid to show your credentials. As George said, keep a good spreadsheet. #FOIFest

Number 1 - don’t be afraid to appeal if you think you’re onto something. The system is there to use. Number 2 - play the long game. Focus requests on something that will still be a story in 12-18 months. #FOIFest

"Corruption prospers when there's an information asymmetry" @rosewhiff.bsky.social #FOIFest

Now @rosewhiff.bsky.social from @anticorruption.bsky.social explaining her aspect is broader, how #FOI fits into an anti corruption toolbox. FOI has shifted public expectations around transparency and built momentum to better govt transparency. #FOIFest

Maurice Frankel talking about the significance of the FOI Act coming into fruition 21 years ago And amusing anecdotes about the resistance of some in government back then to new resultant powers #FOIFest

We’re all ready for #FOIFest! Stay tuned for conference photos and highlights ✨

It's #FOIFest day! I'm out front wearing bright green, you can't miss me!

This is an absolutely fascinating article. Itching for there to be deep analysis across MPs case loads. So much that could be learned for improving public services. @alexparsons.bsky.social nails it when talking about failure demand.

Good overview of the workload on staff and MPs, and what the role of the MP is/could/should be. I prioritise dealing with casework quickly over replying to policy emails because e.g. helping a person access disability support is more important to me... 1/?

To expand a bit on the fragmented ombudsman point here - I think this is an area where "MPs shouldn't be doing casework" and "actually this is a key part of their role" imply pretty much the same practical steps.

“It should not take a US federal investigation into a convicted sex offender to reveal how UK government policy is being shaped behind closed doors.” Read more in my opinion piece for @transparencyuk.bsky.social about the Mandelson/Epstein emails www.transparency.org.uk/news/mandels...

☀️ today is the first day of 10 hours daylight in leeds and it's only 4 weeks until 12 hours of daylight!! ☀️

We've un-postponed (counter-countermanded?) these elections in our system and will be covering them as usual.

We’re launching a new independent newspaper for Leeds - funded by readers. If you want better local journalism in Leeds, this is how it starts. 👉 Pledge your support: leeds.ghost.io

Happy FOI Fest week! Come and join us this Thursday, 19 February, at Birkbeck College, London and online, as we think about what freedom of information has achieved to date, where it goes next, and benefit from lightning talks and skills shares pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...

Lovely shoutout to our election leaflets database from Prof. Rob! You can upload leaflets yourself at: electionleaflets.org

Fascinating- under current rules, all ministers' meetings should be registered. And all consultant lobbyists, like Global Counsel, have to register with the official Registrar and declare all instances of lobbying ministers and perm secs. So is this acceptance that the current schemes don't work?

This is obviously better than nothing, but is not a "very low" threshold! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

New @mysociety.org report out today!

We've created all the May 2026 elections in our system. 4,357 English councillors are scheduled for election, across 107 councils. This is in addition to six local authority mayors and the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Find out if you have an election at whocanivotefor.co.uk

Great new feature on FixMyStreet!

Given the main parliamentary rule about what you can and can't do is "you have to write it down", just a really low bar not being met here.

My quote in this important article: