Rupert Lowe, the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth and leader of the Restore Britain party, has been banned from submitting freedom of information requests on the independent website WhatDoTheyKnow. This move, confirmed by a spokesperson for the site, has sparked controversy, with Mr Lowe calling it "not in the spirit of transparency."
Background of the Ban
Mr Lowe had utilized WhatDoTheyKnow extensively, making more than 1,000 freedom of information requests through the platform. The website, which serves as a public archive and facilitates FOI submissions to Whitehall departments and other public bodies, suspended his account after determining that he had used it improperly.
Reasons for Suspension
According to WhatDoTheyKnow, Mr Lowe's account was suspended because he had used the site to "send general messages to public authorities or for personal messages" to public organisations. This violates the platform's intended purpose, which is strictly for formal FOI requests that are archived publicly.
Mr Lowe's Response
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr Lowe expressed his disappointment, stating, "Sadly our access has been restricted, which I do not believe is in the spirit of transparency." He emphasized the importance of FOI work, noting, "Our teams have uncovered huge scandals through FOI and investigation work. This censorship will not stop us from containing those efforts."
Mr Lowe also highlighted his party's role, saying, "Restore Britain is the only political party first correctly identifying the issues, but more importantly outlining how to solve it. What a novel approach that is."
Nature of the FOI Requests
The freedom of information requests submitted by Mr Lowe covered a range of sensitive topics, including questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion hires and training, grooming gangs, and universal credit for refugees. These inquiries were part of his broader investigative efforts into public sector activities.
WhatDoTheyKnow's Stance
A spokesperson for WhatDoTheyKnow confirmed to the Press Association that Mr Lowe had been banned from using the website but declined to provide further comment on the matter. The site maintains its policy of ensuring that its services are used appropriately for FOI requests only, without deviation into personal or general messaging.
Implications for Transparency
This incident raises questions about the balance between facilitating transparency through FOI requests and preventing misuse of such platforms. While Mr Lowe argues that the ban hinders investigative work, WhatDoTheyKnow asserts the need to uphold its terms of service to maintain the integrity of its archive and process.
The ban underscores ongoing tensions in how digital tools for public accountability are managed, particularly when used by political figures for extensive inquiries into government operations.
