I posted at the weekend about how Freedom of Information campaigner Heather Brooke should be praised for her role in the MPs expenses scandal. (Long backgound piece by Heather in the Guardian today)
I also raised a brief concern about her motivation.
That appears confirmed by this post from Heather urging people to join her and the Taxpayers Alliance and sign a petition calling for full and immediate publication of all MPs expenses.
Linking up with the Taxpayers Alliance is, I believe, a mistake. Journalists do align themselves with protest groups when they become particularly close to a story. It's a tough call about how independent you wish to be. I'm all for journalists taking a stand because some things are just wrong.
However, the TPA , I believe, is a front for big business which has no interest in quality journalism. It does a superb job at getting lazy and/or incompetent journalists to reprint its poorly researched press releases which pursue an extreme ideological line.
Personally, I'd like to see Heather use her skills investigating who funds theTPA rather than give this astroturf campaign any credibility.
Have a look at this piece from Tax Justice Network for some background.
Update: Heather has responded on her blog to my comments there and I've reprinted below.
HI Phil,
I take your points, but this is just too big for one person and I need
the help. I asked the Mysociety guys but they don’t have the manpower
right now to set up a separate petition.
And I have to say the TPA have been assiduous users of the FOIA - more than almost anyone.
The issue of transparent accountable government is one that transcends party politics. It unites both left and right.
I don’t agree that we have a real choice in elections. Our choice is superficial and pre-determined. I would like to see a system that is more responsive and gives the chance for local leaders to move up the ranks into parliament rather than having a few elites parachuted into constituencies based on having worked in the strategy unit.
Update II: and this post from Heather adds some nice colour to her campaign.
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