United Kingdom – (C6) Practice of access to information

Until recently the UK would have scored rather lower than a number of other western European democracies with regard to this criterion of democracy (Humphreys 1996: 53-57). However, in 2000 a Freedom of Information Act was enacted which finally came into force in 2005. Its considerable effectiveness has been summarized by a 2008 report of the Campaign for Freedom of Information. The report itemized 1000 stories, published in national and regional papers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during 2006 and 2007, based on Freedom of Information disclosures made upon the request (mainly) of journalists. They included significant disclosures about the Iraq conflict and innumerable reports about high expenses claims and dubious public spending (Campaign for Freedom of Information 2008). It is also noteworthy that the UK hosts a number of active campaigning organizations committed to freedom of information and expression, such as the Campaign for Freedom of Information,³¹ the Index on Censorship,³² and Article 19.³³