Day of Reckoning


Good news for readers in South Lanarkshire and, in fact, everyone interested in  Freedom of Information (FOI) - and the fight for equal pay.

South Lanarkshire Council (a Labour dominated council propped up by Tory support) - faces a day of reckoning later this year at the UK Supreme Court in London.

Regular readers will recall that South Lanarkshire has been refusing to publish details about the pay of traditional council male jobs - unlike other councils in Scotland, of course.

South Lanarkshire was originally ordered to do so by the independent Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) - yet the council appealed this ruling to highest civil court in Scotland, the Court of Session.

At the Court of Session three senior Scottish judges - Lords Marnoch, Mackay and Brailsford - gave South Lanarkshire short shrift and unanimously dismissed the council's appeal.

But South Lanarkshire (which has deep pockets when it comes to spending public money) - appealed the case again - this time to the UK Supreme Court which will consider the appeal on 8 July 2013.

Now I plan to be in London that day - as the person who instigated the original FOI request - but the case is now being taken forward by the independent Scottish Information Commissioner.

So in one corner, so to speak, will be Mark Irvine, the judgement of the independent Scottish Information Commissioner and the wisdom of Scotland's Court of Session (in the shape of Lords Marnoch, Mackay and Brailsford) - with South Lanarkshire Council on the other side.

The irony is that this Labour dominated council claims to support the principle of freedom of information - but only when it suits them, if you ask me.

Roll on 8 July 2013 - I say -  as it could be a very big day for equal pay and supporters of freedom of information.  

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