Commitment to open government should be Labour policy

Open government is the simple idea that institutions work better for citizens when they are transparent, engaging and accountable.

Labour has a strong and pioneering record on open government. It was Labour that introduced the Freedom of Information Act in 2000, a groundbreaking piece of legislation which established the people’s legal right to information. The act has proved fundamental in exposing bad practises and played a central role in unravelling the scandal of MPs’ expenses. Jack Straw’s original arguments for it are still compelling: to “help to transform the culture of Government from one of secrecy to one of openness… it should raise public confidence in the processes of government, and enhance the quality of decision making.”

In 2010 the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition picked up the mantle and have made significant progress in opening up government. Francis Maude made open policymaking a key reform in the Civil Service Reform Plan, and this government has committed the UK to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international platform for domestic reformers. The agenda is truly cross-party – everyone can see the benefits of transparency as an antiseptic to corruption, waste and mismanagement, and a more engaged citizenry using public information in creative ways.

As we approach the election there’s an opportunity to provide leadership on open government. The party has been developing their thinking and has indicated that reforms will be on the table if they win in May.

The link between data, openness and democracy is firmly drawn in the recent Digital Government Review commissioned by Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister. The report recommends that government loosen its grip on data and consider it a duty to release open data. The report specifically recommends government publish spend and performance data side by side to facilitate greater public scrutiny.

The next step for Labour is to make their commitment to the open government agenda explicit. Including it in the manifesto will show it’s serious about opening up government.

The party should also commit itself to continuing this government’s work with the Open Government Partnership. Since the UK joined in 2011, reformers inside and outside government have achieved notable wins. The G8 adopted principles which make it harder for individuals to hide behind anonymous shell companies, and the UK has published its first-ever National Anti-Corruption Action Plan, bringing together all of the UK’s anti-corruption efforts under one cross-government plan. If Labour wins the election, they should be aiming to build on and exceed these wins.

Blair famously described Freedom of Information as one of his biggest mistakes in government. His comment was probably linked to the policy proving a nuisance to Labour – as Ian Hislop commented on the thirtieth anniversary of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, “I think there’s one [mistake] he’s missing”. But the point of Freedom of Information was always to expose what the government would rather keep hidden. Labour should be proud of its legacy as the party which threw the doors and windows of government open and encouraged the public to look inside.

The party’s 1997 Freedom of Information white paper put it succinctly: “Openness is fundamental to the political health of a modern state”. Whilst the Labour party made the 1997 commitment in reaction to Tory sleaze, in 2015 the openness agenda can be more positive, based on a race to the top. Open government should be included in the 2015 manifesto to reinforce Labour’s commitment to a vision of a 21st century government which is democratic, transparent and unafraid of the scrutiny of its citizens.