The Movement Is Growing

The public paid. The public decided. The public should see.

OpenFOI is a movement for transparency in UK public services. We believe the right to know isn't a technicality buried in legislation — it's how ordinary people hold power to account. Secrecy in councils, the NHS, policing, and government isn't a side effect. It's a choice. We're here to change it.

Why It Matters Read The Manifesto
The Case

Secrecy has a cost

Every year, tens of thousands of Freedom of Information requests are refused, delayed past the legal deadline, or answered so narrowly they tell the public nothing. That isn't a technicality — it's public money spent, and public decisions made, without the scrutiny they're legally required to withstand.

In 2025, UK central government departments granted only 36% of resolvable FOI requests in full — and withheld 35% entirely, according to Cabinet Office figures. Local councils, NHS trusts, and police forces aren't even required to report centrally — so across the wider public sector, the true picture is even less visible than the official numbers suggest.

Source: Freedom of Information statistics: annual 2025 bulletin, Cabinet Office / GOV.UK — covers monitored central government bodies only.

01

Accountability

Public bodies spend public money and exercise public power. Transparency is the mechanism that lets that power be checked, not just trusted.

02

Trust

Trust in institutions isn't built by asking for it — it's built by institutions that have nothing to hide showing their working.

03

Better Decisions

Scrutiny doesn't just catch wrongdoing. Open information leads to better-argued, better-tested decisions in the first place.

The Demands

What we're calling for

01
Publish by default, not on request. Spending, contracts, and major decisions should be public from the start — not something citizens have to fight to see.
02
Answer fully, and on time. The law already sets a deadline. It should be met, and requests should be answered honestly — not narrowed until they say nothing.
03
Real consequences for stonewalling. Public bodies that unlawfully withhold, delay, or destroy information should face consequences that actually change behaviour.
The Manifesto

Our manifesto

In a world where information is the currency of progress and knowledge, we stand as champions of the invaluable right to know. Here, amidst the digital waves of the information age, we ignite the torch of transparency and set forth on a journey to illuminate the realms of understanding, accountability, and empowerment.

Imagine a society where the veil of secrecy is lifted, where citizens are armed with the truth, and where decisions are made with the wisdom born of open dialogue. This is the world we envision, a world where information flows freely like a river, nurturing the seeds of innovation, justice, and societal evolution.

At the heart of our mission lies the firm belief that an informed individual is an empowered force for change. From exposing hidden truths to unraveling complex narratives, we strive to break down barriers and dismantle the walls that shroud critical information. With each keystroke and every piece of data shared, we contribute to the vibrant mosaic of a more just, accountable, and interconnected global community.

Together, we are the architects of change, the guardians of transparency, and the heralds of a more enlightened future. Join us on this exhilarating voyage as we champion the cause of freedom of information, igniting a revolution that echoes through generations. Let the light of truth guide our way, and let transparency be our legacy. Welcome to a realm where information knows no bounds, and the spirit of curiosity knows no limits.