--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was still in parliament when the Labour…" description: "\"I was still in parliament when the Labour government passed the Freedom of Information Act. As the then shadow home secretary I queried whether in some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/ann-widdecombe-4586_freedom_i-was-still-in-parliament-when-the-labou_2060301.png" --- # I was still in parliament when the Labour government… ![“I was still in parliament when the Labour government passed the Freedom of Information Act. As the then shadow home secretary I queried whether in some areas it did enough to open up the work of government to public scrutiny.” quote by Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/ann-widdecombe-4586_freedom_i-was-still-in-parliament-when-the-labou_2060301.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/ann-widdecombe-4586_freedom_i-was-still-in-parliament-when-the-labou_2060301.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/ann-widdecombe-4586_freedom_i-was-still-in-parliament-when-the-labou_2060301.png) > “I was still in parliament when the Labour government passed the Freedom of Information Act. As the then shadow home secretary I queried whether in some areas it did enough to open up the work of government to public scrutiny.” [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questioned whether the Freedom of Information Act sufficiently opened government work to public view. **In simple terms:** She questioned the Act’s transparency. Key Takeaway Consider the Act’s impact. Themes government law transparency Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - policy review - journalistic investigation - civic engagement Key Concepts Freedom of Information Act parliament public scrutiny Questions to Reflect On - What areas remain opaque despite the Act? - How can transparency be improved? A Different Perspective The Act may have gaps in coverage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Passed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-passed-3927601/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Labour Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour-government-636544/) [Parliament Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament-labour-3927600/) [Passed Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passed-freedom-3927602/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public Scrutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-scrutiny-239283/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I am proud our government has passed a law that ensures priority hiring of Veterans, as I advocated for this, and spoke about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-am-proud-our-government-has-passed-a-law-that-ensures-priority/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [The government passed more laws to protect women from dirty jokes than to protect men from death by faulty rafters at a construction site.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-government-passed-more-laws-to-protect-women-from-dirty-jokes/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Government works best under the glare of public scrutiny. Absent such scrutiny, abuses occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/government-works-best-under-the-glare-of-public-scrutiny-absent-such/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I was able to grow up and do silly things and have a life with only a small amount of public scrutiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keisha-castle-hughes/i-was-able-to-grow-up-and-do-silly-things-and-have-a-life-with-only-a/) [Keisha Castle-Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keisha-castle-hughes/) > [All officers of the Intelligence Community, and especially its most senior officer, must conduct themselves in a manner that earns and retains the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-c-blair/all-officers-of-the-intelligence-community-and-especially-its-most/) [Dennis C. Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-c-blair/) > [No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [It's a little bit hard to have personal things subject to public scrutiny, and it's a pressure that other people aren't under, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/it-s-a-little-bit-hard-to-have-personal-things-subject-to-public/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I happen to respect people who are willing to come under public scrutiny and serve their country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-happen-to-respect-people-who-are-willing-to-come-under-public/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you decide to become a political actor, then the things that you say and you do become subject of public scrutiny and comment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/if-you-decide-to-become-a-political-actor-then-the-things-that-you/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [Marriage is hard, and it is even harder when your marriage is under public scrutiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/marriage-is-hard-and-it-is-even-harder-when-your-marriage-is-under/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [Public scrutiny is a part of the profession. And I kind of enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pulkit-samrat/public-scrutiny-is-a-part-of-the-profession-and-i-kind-of-enjoy-it/) [Pulkit Samrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pulkit-samrat/) > [I don't think anyone's private life stands up to public scrutiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/i-don-t-think-anyone-s-private-life-stands-up-to-public-scrutiny/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) > [I don't know if you're ever prepared for public scrutiny. I don't know if you can even mentally prepare yourself for it. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-know-if-you-re-ever-prepared-for-public-scrutiny-i-don-t-know/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [If it stands the test of public scrutiny, do it... if it doesn't stand the test of public scrutiny then don't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/if-it-stands-the-test-of-public-scrutiny-do-it-if-it-doesn-t-stand/) [Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/) > [No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding; and from that understanding comes support or opposition and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/no-president-should-fear-public-scrutiny-of-his-program-for-from-that-2/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More by Ann Widdecombe > [It is quite wrong that one group of people should regularly and deliberately flout the law, boast about it and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-quite-wrong-that-one-group-of-people-should-regularly-and/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [In the 1990s, while the Maastricht debate was raging, I was a minister in the Major government. Every single piece of legislation we proposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/in-the-1990s-while-the-maastricht-debate-was-raging-i-was-a-minister/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I cannot bear the language TV chefs use - they don't seem able to look at a plate of vegetables without accusing it of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-cannot-bear-the-language-tv-chefs-use-they-don-t-seem-able-to-look/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I am not an enthusiast when it comes to cities, preferring rolling scenery, wildlife and stars to museums, monuments, architecture and traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-am-not-an-enthusiast-when-it-comes-to-cities-preferring-rolling/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Believing in God was something I took as much for granted as the air I breathed. 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I had two when I arrived at Westminster, Sooty and Sweep, who had come with a flat I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/cats-are-ideal-for-politicians-i-had-two-when-i-arrived-at/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [If I were queen for a day, every city would have to spend one hour in utter silence: no music in shops and restaurants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/if-i-were-queen-for-a-day-every-city-would-have-to-spend-one-hour-in/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [The postcode lottery means that the level of care you get differs hugely around the country, and the health service simply cannot meet every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-postcode-lottery-means-that-the-level-of-care-you-get-differs/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Almost anybody from the past will hold views discordant with the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/almost-anybody-from-the-past-will-hold-views-discordant-with-the/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [The Arctic has huge glaciers, frozen waterfalls and floating ice. 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I had doubts, then I decided we should stay in, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-suspect-my-own-journey-to-brexit-has-closely-followed-that-of/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I am a Conservative: I'm never going to be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-am-a-conservative-i-m-never-going-to-be-anything-else/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) [Explore all 109 Ann Widdecombe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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