Five-year fight by the Guardian to free information about Prince Charles' involvement in government affairs to continue as Information Tribunal adjourned
This article was migrated from an old version of our website in 2025. As a result, it might have some low-quality images or non-functioning links - if there's any issues you'd like to see fixed, get in touch with us at info@journalism.co.uk.
The Guardian's must wait until 2011 to hear if its five-year fight to free information concerning Prince Charles' alleged lobbying influence on government faces another has been successful.
In April 2005 the paper filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to government asking for the release of letters written by Prince Charles to government ministers over an eight month period between 2004 and 2005. The letters, the Guardian claims, show Prince Charles' "meddling" in government affairs and wielding influence over ministers and government policy. According to the paper , the content of the letters to seven Whitehall departments are in the public interest. The Royal Household has said Prince Charles has a right to be involved in the business of government before he becomes king.
In December 2009 Guardian journalist Rob Evans appealed the Commissioner's decision to keep the letters secret, leading to an Information Tribunal.
The tribunal was adjourned last week and will resume on 17 January 2011. There are more witnesses to come and there was not enough time given to hear them all, Rob Evans told Journalism.co.uk.
"It's a hell of a lot of time in journalistic and legal terms. You can never tell how the tribunal is thinking but at least rather than issuing a blanket statement they do seem to be engaged in looking at this matter seriously," Evans said.
But Evans is concerned that this could be the last chance to free this information because of plans to tighten up the Freedom of Information Act and block the release of information about the prince for 20 years or five years after his death. The proposed changes to the Act were part of a larger constitutional reform bill passed by parliament in the last day's of the former government, after a general election had been called. The changes have not yet come into force, but there is a possibility that they could do so before the tribunal is concluded.
"An absolute block on releasing these letters looms in the background of our case. It was pressure from the royal household that brought about that absolute block. They are of course self-interested, but in addition, it went through parliament with very little scrutiny. You would only be able to find out what Prince Charles is doing from leaks and court cases and the steps down the scrutiny of him," he said.
