Tories FAIL to block release of Lansley diaries showing run-up to Health and Social Care Act
Oh dear: Andrew Lansley.
How unfortunate for the Tories that they should lose this legal battle in the run-up to a general election!
It is important because the diary entries in question concern the period when Andrew Lansley was Health Secretary, pushing his hated Health and Social Care Act through Parliament.
They are likely to show the amount of influence private health firms had on his decisions.
That is why, This Writer believes, Sir Terence Ethington, Master of the Rolls, said the following in announcing the decision [boldings mine]: “In particular it seems to me clear that it remained relevant or potentially relevant to the department to know, as a matter of historical record, where Mr Lansley had been and with whom on particular occasions, should there be a political, journalistic or historical interest raised with the department in relation to those matters.”
The information is not likely to be released until after the election, but the fact that the Conservative government tried to hush it up indicates that it contains details that would be embarrassing to a Tory party seeking re-election.
Perhaps we should all consider that – and the ever-increasing role of private companies in our National Health Service…
And then vote Labour on June 8 – for the sake of our health.
The government has failed to block the release of sections of former health secretary Andrew Lansley’s diaries in the court of appeal.
Journalist Simon Lewis made a request under the Freedom of Information Act to see passages of Lansley’s ministerial diary from 2010 and 2011, covering the period when controversial health reforms were being drawn up.
He was only given a heavily redacted version, but in 2013 the information commissioner, who oversees the legislation, ruled that the majority of the withheld information should be disclosed.
The government has since been challenging that decision through the information tribunals and the courts; but three appeal judges unanimously ruled on Wednesday in favour of disclosure.
With Whitehall officials in pre-election purdah, which puts strict limits on the decisions they can make, the information is unlikely to be released until after the campaign is over.
Source: Government fails to block release of Andrew Lansley diary portions | Politics | The Guardian
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since we know Unum was invited over to tackle for the tories and blair the welfare state the nhs how they going to make us pay dearly just so that they keep getting richer
Now we will get the truth. Great timing actually.
The timing was snail pace to ensure any embarrassing information did not effect the voting. After the election is no good to anyone.
Why can’t we see them now?
Because the civil servants responsible are in ‘purdah’ during the general election period.
Let me get this straight – an ordinary researcher can go and ask to see them, but the civil servants aren’t allowed to fetch them?
An ordinary researcher can ask to see them, but won’t actually get to see them until after the election.
Where are the honest whistle blowers when you need them surely they can’t all be tories in the civil service…..sometimes I think they all are from some of their policies..