Martin Rosenbaum
@mrosenbaum.bsky.social
Freedom of information expert & consultant. Honorary Research Fellow, Birkbeck College politics dept. Author, 'Freedom of Information: A practical guidebook', http://amzn.to/3L2tuKi. ExBBC political journalist & radio producer. https://rosenbaum.org.uk/
Pinned
Martin Rosenbaum
@mrosenbaum.bsky.social
· Jan 10
Since my recent revelations using FOI seem to have sparked some interest here, this seems like a good time to say that if you also want to use FOI effectively, I recommend you buy my book: 'Freedom of Information: A practical guidebook' www.amazon.co.uk/Freedom-Info...
Very interesting interview, with Andrew Lownie outlining some of the obstacles placed in his way, as he tried to bring more scrutiny and transparency to royal activities
The full interview with Andrew Lownie about how Prince Andrew was protected - and how documents about the royals are suppressed - is also up on YouTube
Would highly recommend watching it youtu.be/OJHaVsDVv-c?...
Would highly recommend watching it youtu.be/OJHaVsDVv-c?...
The Prince Andrew Cover Up: How Royal Files Are Hidden From Public
YouTube video by Democracy for Sale
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Very interesting interview, with Andrew Lownie outlining some of the obstacles placed in his way, as he tried to bring more scrutiny and transparency to royal activities
The ICO is investigating claims that on the same day that an FOI tribunal ordered Fermanagh & Omagh Council to disclose inspection reports for two dog breeders, the council destroyed eight years' worth of similar information about other dog breeding premises. The ICO is 'surprised and concerned'.
November 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The ICO is investigating claims that on the same day that an FOI tribunal ordered Fermanagh & Omagh Council to disclose inspection reports for two dog breeders, the council destroyed eight years' worth of similar information about other dog breeding premises. The ICO is 'surprised and concerned'.
FOI requesters often feel frustrated when getting answers like 'under 5' instead of actual numbers - but this isn't allowed unless the individuals involved are actually identifiable. See this recent ICO decision: ico.org.uk/media2/o0rgv... (h/t Tim Turner)
October 30, 2025 at 10:32 AM
FOI requesters often feel frustrated when getting answers like 'under 5' instead of actual numbers - but this isn't allowed unless the individuals involved are actually identifiable. See this recent ICO decision: ico.org.uk/media2/o0rgv... (h/t Tim Turner)
ONS has launched a consultation exercise on which topics are to be included in the next census ... consultations.ons.gov.uk/census/censu...
Census 2031 topic consultation
- Office for National Statistics
- Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by the Office for National Statistics
consultations.ons.gov.uk
October 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
ONS has launched a consultation exercise on which topics are to be included in the next census ... consultations.ons.gov.uk/census/censu...
Many large public bodies do not publish the FOI statistics required by the Cabinet Office Code of Practice. The ICO has now started taking action over this - it's just issued eight practice recommendations to departments in the Northern Ireland Executive.
October 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Many large public bodies do not publish the FOI statistics required by the Cabinet Office Code of Practice. The ICO has now started taking action over this - it's just issued eight practice recommendations to departments in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Reposted by Martin Rosenbaum
New on TheyWorkForYou: better ways of managing email alerts
Improving TheyWorkForYou email alerts
Improving our parliamentary monitoring tools to make it easier to manage more complex alerts.
www.mysociety.org
October 24, 2025 at 9:54 AM
New on TheyWorkForYou: better ways of managing email alerts
Reposted by Martin Rosenbaum
Join CFoIS and Human Rights Consortium for a FoISA Reform Bill Update Event on November the 19th.
Tickets are available to book via Eventbrite now: www.eventbrite.com/e/1759810012...
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi
Tickets are available to book via Eventbrite now: www.eventbrite.com/e/1759810012...
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi
October 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Join CFoIS and Human Rights Consortium for a FoISA Reform Bill Update Event on November the 19th.
Tickets are available to book via Eventbrite now: www.eventbrite.com/e/1759810012...
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi
Tickets are available to book via Eventbrite now: www.eventbrite.com/e/1759810012...
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #event #foi
Transport for London official (discussing whether to publish research about impact of LTNs commissioned from Uni of Westminster) writes "this stuff is FOI-able ... we may be forced to publish" - but actually they didn't, and it has indeed been FOI'd
!["There’s also the very thorny issue that, regardless of our publication plans (especially if nothing specific has been decided), all of this stuff is FOI-able! So as soon as word gets out that these reports exist (something which I think for now hasn’t happened – crucially not reached those more prone to send FOIs) we may be forced to publish what we have. Hence (and this may be more for [redacted]) we may not want to mention anything at all (including the good news about Cycleways) until we’re ready to go out with the whole lot. UoW usually talk about this research at conferences over the summer but so far this hasn’t come to bite us and it could be framed as “their thing” even though it’s our research, money and data"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wm2dud5yxkp2jcgkratgapum/bafkreih6vo6o3ethweel3mvkfm4uy4ktwh2tzlbmsu6logjh4kxdqyg7ue@jpeg)
October 15, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Transport for London official (discussing whether to publish research about impact of LTNs commissioned from Uni of Westminster) writes "this stuff is FOI-able ... we may be forced to publish" - but actually they didn't, and it has indeed been FOI'd
Reposted by Martin Rosenbaum
I also looked at what the latest @britishelectionstudy.com data tells us about the leisure activities of different party supporters, and this was the most striking comparison - Reform voters are much less likely to get their news from the BBC
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
October 10, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I also looked at what the latest @britishelectionstudy.com data tells us about the leisure activities of different party supporters, and this was the most striking comparison - Reform voters are much less likely to get their news from the BBC
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
Reposted by Martin Rosenbaum
What are the links between personality and party support? I've examined the latest @britishelectionstudy.com data for the most recent evidence ....
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
October 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM
What are the links between personality and party support? I've examined the latest @britishelectionstudy.com data for the most recent evidence ....
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
What are the links between personality and party support? I've examined the latest @britishelectionstudy.com data for the most recent evidence ....
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
October 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM
What are the links between personality and party support? I've examined the latest @britishelectionstudy.com data for the most recent evidence ....
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/politics-p...
Reminder: On Tues 14 Oct, I'm talking to the ICO's Director of FOI Warren Seddon abut 20 years of FOI, as part of the ICO's annual online event - anyone can register via here: ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
October 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reminder: On Tues 14 Oct, I'm talking to the ICO's Director of FOI Warren Seddon abut 20 years of FOI, as part of the ICO's annual online event - anyone can register via here: ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
I'm taking part in an online discussion about 20 years of FOI with the ICO's Director of FOI, Warren Seddon, as part of the ICO's annual online conference (DPPC 2025) on Tues 14 Oct - open to anyone, you can sign up at ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Data Protection Practitioners' Conference
This year’s DPPC will take place online on Tuesday 14 October 2025.
ico.org.uk
October 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
I'm taking part in an online discussion about 20 years of FOI with the ICO's Director of FOI, Warren Seddon, as part of the ICO's annual online conference (DPPC 2025) on Tues 14 Oct - open to anyone, you can sign up at ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
This is a fascinating article, full of detail, for anyone interested in access to government records and processes for their preservation
British colonial officials destroyed countless files before decolonisation. But one colony has been neglected by the literature: Hong Kong. My latest paper in @jich.bsky.social examines the past, present and future of Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
doi.org
October 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
This is a fascinating article, full of detail, for anyone interested in access to government records and processes for their preservation
Lots of very interesting detail in this ...
I've done deep-dive into latest @britishelectionstudy.com wave to explain rise of Reform:
- Who are their voters? (pretty working-class)
- What do they care about? (immigration)
- What do they want? (lower immigration)
- Plus why I think "accommodation doesn't work" needs more nuance
🧵 of results
- Who are their voters? (pretty working-class)
- What do they care about? (immigration)
- What do they want? (lower immigration)
- Plus why I think "accommodation doesn't work" needs more nuance
🧵 of results
Who is Voting Reform? And Why?
The who, what, when, how and huh of why Reform has gained so much support in such a short period of time
jamesbreckwoldt.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Lots of very interesting detail in this ...
Since MRPs are in the news, this is what I wrote in May after a British Polling Council conference … more here: rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/maybe-righ...
September 28, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Since MRPs are in the news, this is what I wrote in May after a British Polling Council conference … more here: rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/maybe-righ...
A useful new blog from the ICO's Deborah Clark, providing a good summary of how the ICO sees its recent measures to improve FOI compliance by public authorities - ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
FOI in action: advocating for transparency and driving change this ‘Universal Access to Information Day’
Each year, on 28 September, we observe the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
ico.org.uk
September 26, 2025 at 11:21 AM
A useful new blog from the ICO's Deborah Clark, providing a good summary of how the ICO sees its recent measures to improve FOI compliance by public authorities - ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
The ICO has today published its own new introductory guides for journalists, academics and small businesses about how to use FOI and information rights - ico.org.uk/for-the-publ...
Information rights for journalism, academic research and commercial purposes
ico.org.uk
September 26, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The ICO has today published its own new introductory guides for journalists, academics and small businesses about how to use FOI and information rights - ico.org.uk/for-the-publ...
Another plug for this piece, justified surely by all the comments received telling me how 'fascinating' & 'insightful' it is, and setting aside the suspicion that they are, ironically perhaps in the circumstances, AI-generated...
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
Generative complaints
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Another plug for this piece, justified surely by all the comments received telling me how 'fascinating' & 'insightful' it is, and setting aside the suspicion that they are, ironically perhaps in the circumstances, AI-generated...
Reposted by Martin Rosenbaum
Interesting point that the Scottish government’s refusal to provide screenshots of its searches for the requested info is inconsistent with its practice in other recent FOI cases. www.scottishlegal.com/articles/sco... @katysclark.bsky.social
Scottish ministers rebuked for blocking FOI on Indyref Supreme Court case
Ministers have been criticised by Scotland’s transparency watchdog for wrongly attempting to block a freedom of information (FOI) request on the lord advocate’s reference to the Supreme Co...
www.scottishlegal.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Interesting point that the Scottish government’s refusal to provide screenshots of its searches for the requested info is inconsistent with its practice in other recent FOI cases. www.scottishlegal.com/articles/sco... @katysclark.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin Rosenbaum
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
Generative complaints
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
Good event coming up for those interested in FOI ...
3 experts discuss the question "How can we tell if #FOI laws are working in practice?" Join Toby Mendel of @law-democracy.bsky.social, Giovanni Esposito of Université Libre de Bruxelles & @mariazuffova.bsky.social of @eui-eu.bsky.social on Oct 2: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/putting-tr... #RightToKnowDay
Putting transparency to the test: evaluating FOI in practice
How can we tell if FOI laws are working in practice? 3 expert speakers will help us assess whether legislation matches reality.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Good event coming up for those interested in FOI ...
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
Generative complaints
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The UK's major complaints services are receiving increasing numbers of cases to investigate, and the use of generative AI chatbots might be a cause.
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/generative...
Consultation exercise now open on the Bill to strengthen FOI law in Scotland - your chance to express your views on the proposals ...
📢 Changes are proposed to Scotland’s FOI laws.
The Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to make it easier to access information and hold public services to account.
Listen to Standards Committee Convener Martin Whitfield and have your say.
🔗 yourviews.parliament.scot/sppa/freedom...
The Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to make it easier to access information and hold public services to account.
Listen to Standards Committee Convener Martin Whitfield and have your say.
🔗 yourviews.parliament.scot/sppa/freedom...
September 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Consultation exercise now open on the Bill to strengthen FOI law in Scotland - your chance to express your views on the proposals ...
Latest quarterly FOI stats out today show:
1) Big increase in FOI requests to govt, esp for Home Office, DWP, Treasury
2) Delays at FCDO are still terrible
3) National Archives is at last sorting out its huge backlog caused by transfer of MoD personnel files
1) Big increase in FOI requests to govt, esp for Home Office, DWP, Treasury
2) Delays at FCDO are still terrible
3) National Archives is at last sorting out its huge backlog caused by transfer of MoD personnel files
September 17, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Latest quarterly FOI stats out today show:
1) Big increase in FOI requests to govt, esp for Home Office, DWP, Treasury
2) Delays at FCDO are still terrible
3) National Archives is at last sorting out its huge backlog caused by transfer of MoD personnel files
1) Big increase in FOI requests to govt, esp for Home Office, DWP, Treasury
2) Delays at FCDO are still terrible
3) National Archives is at last sorting out its huge backlog caused by transfer of MoD personnel files