Maurice Frankel: "For the first time since 1997, a prime minister has not only spoken out clearly in favour of FOI but proposed to extend, rather than restrict, the legislation."

"Clearly it was not the cost but the embarrassment of disclosure that was causing cold feet. But that was indeed the point of inquiries by the press and ordinary individuals - not to tie the Government in knots but to bring out into the open abuses that w

"The surprise move was announced in the name of open government - but the Tories saw it as a ruse to allow Mr Brown to hurry out embarrassing revelations from the past."

"Gordon Brown’s invitation to the Daily Mail editor to investigate access to government documents shows once again that the prime minister keeps his friends close and his enemies closer"