Growing government secrecy: how and why information access has become increasingly restricted in the UK

Drawing from interviews with thirty-one journalists, this article examines how and why information access has become increasingly restricted in the United Kingdom (UK). The UK government pledged to improve government transparency through measures such as passing and implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). However, despite acknowledging good levels of reporting freedom, participants reported that their FOI requests and daily journalistic access to government information have been facing increasing restrictions. Contributing factors identified include (1) governments’ attempts to avoid embarrassment or public backlash; (2) their negative relationship with the media; (3) antagonism in politics; (4) their diminished ability to support journalistic information access due to prolonged austerity; and (5) legal exploitation and limitations. The mature news management system has facilitated the increase in restrictions on information access. To improve the situation, participants called for reforms to the FOIA and other laws, increased resources for handling FOI requests, a shift in governments’ attitudes towards the media, and enhanced training for government departments and officials, particularly the police, to better engage with journalists. The opacity of UK governments at both the central and local levels indicates a growing trend of government secrecy, which may ultimately evolve into a propaganda regime, requiring urgent attention.