October, 31 2013, 11:31am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Reprieve's London office can be contacted on: communications [at] reprieve.org.uk / +44 (0) 207 553 8140.,Reprieve US,, based in New York City, can be contacted on Katherine [dot] oshea [at] reprieve.org
Cameron Not Practicing What He Preaches On Transparency
Commenting on the Prime Minister's speech to today's 'Open Government' summit, in which he said "When we talk about transparency elsewhere, we've got to show it at home too," and claimed that "Over the past three and a half years the Government I lead has been unprecedented in the information we've released," Reprieve's Executive Director, Clare Algar said:
LONDON
Commenting on the Prime Minister's speech to today's 'Open Government' summit, in which he said "When we talk about transparency elsewhere, we've got to show it at home too," and claimed that "Over the past three and a half years the Government I lead has been unprecedented in the information we've released," Reprieve's Executive Director, Clare Algar said:
"David Cameron is right that we need transparency at home - but sadly, he isn't practicing what he preaches.
"His Government is carrying out a wide-ranging assault on the public's ability to hold it accountable through the courts - cutting back judicial review and legal aid, while introducing secret courts which see the citizen shut out of their own case.
"Just last week, lawyers for Mr Cameron were desperately trying to shut down a case brought by Libyan torture victims, who only want answers and an apology over the part the UK government played in their abuse by handing them over to Gaddafi.
"Add to this Government proposals to roll back Freedom of Information, and clamp down on recent revelations about the extent of mass-snooping by our intelligence agencies, and a clear picture emerges of a programme to limit, not enhance, transparency and accountability."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. For further information, please contact Donald Campbell in Reprieve's press office: 0207 553 8166 / donald.campbell@reprieve.org.uk
2. The full text of the Prime Minister's speech can be found here.
Reprieve is a UK-based human rights organization that uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantanamo Bay.
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