A Brighton MP is preparing a bill to bring the King and the royal household under the Freedom of Information Act.
Siân Berry has shared her intention to amend the 26-year-old law which gave members of the public a general right to request information from authorities, such as Whitehall departments or local councils.
The royal household and sovereign are not public authorities within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and other public authorities can refuse to disclose their communications with the sovereign and his wider office.
Ms Berry told the Press Association that allowing the release of documents and data related to the royals would “be a huge step for transparency in what has been a shadowy institution for far too long”.
Her draft Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill would extend to the Royal Archive, a collection of documents stretching back more than 250 years based at Windsor Castle’s Round Tower, and the duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster.
The government has recently faced calls to publish documents related to the royal family which would not normally be released under existing laws.
This reached a crescendo when MPs earlier this year voted to demand the release of papers related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a special representative for trade and investment in 2001.
A 31-page dossier published in response revealed efforts were made to stop the former Duke of York being offered “golfing functions” overseas and that he favoured “ballet rather than the theatre”.
Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February and interviewed under caution before being released under investigation.
Ms Berry, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, told PA: “It is outrageous that there is a specific carve-out under freedom of information legislation for the royal family.
“This unnecessarily shields what should be a perfectly normally accountable part of our constitution and it has to go.”
Ms Berry said that her proposal was designed to enhance scrutiny the royal family’s use of public assets, “things that are part of the job, not part of their own private lives”.
The bill would need to be presented to Parliament and gain approval from MPs and peers before any change in the law.
The Freedom of Information Act includes several exemptions, for example, to prevent information being released about secret special forces missions or MPs’ residential addresses.
Section 37 of the law exempts “communications with the sovereign” and related people, such as their heirs, from the law.
Also exempt is information which could “prejudice” the UK’s relationship with foreign governments, advice to ministers about how they should draw up government policy and secrets which could compromise national security.
The government is not thought to be backing any moves to bring the royal family into freedom of information legislation.
The Monster Raving Loony Party continuing to be totally out of touch with the major issues of the day?
Go away you pointless individual, your as pathetic as Lucas, another champagne socialist telling us what to do.
‘Telling us what to do’? I didn’t know Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lived in Coldean!
Think he lives at your house
Is this really the best this waste of space can come up with?
She is clearly competing to be the prize fruit cake in the fruit cake party..
What is the point of her and her vile party?
Why do you support sovereign exemption?
Can’t trust that woman, fake smile,
Fruitcake alert!
Perhaps you could enforce the law and force our council to answer every FOI, which they are currently dodging.
An obligation to publish all FOI questions and answers on their website would be equally useful.
They are answering every FOI. Some not within the required timescales, but they are being answered. The council already puts them on their website; you’re wanting the FOI Disclosure Log.
MPs don’t enforce FoI Legislation.
The Information Commissioners Office does.
I can hear a cuckoo!
Every Parliamentary session MPs propose hundreds of new laws or changes to existing laws and almost none of them ever get a Second Reading (initial debate) let alone get through the full parliamentary process.
The only ones that do get a second reading and therefore any chance of being passed are the top 6 or 7 from the Private Members ballot (20 members chosen by ballot) plus any ‘presentation bills’ which (a) have wide spread political support but also (b) the government nod.
In the 2024 – 2026 session 6 private members bills received royal assent and only 2 presentation bills.
Chance of this getting lots of publicity – 100%
Chances of this getting enacted into law – 0%
Sian, please address antisemitism in the city and in the Green Party. This is far more important than FOI for the Windsors.
And please address the grooming gang scandal. You know the one you voted against having an inquest into.