The transparency agenda is one of the most exciting things about the Cameron project but it is an idea that is hard to explain. But David Cameron’s speech to TED last week—video above, is the best expression of it that we have had yet. When you think about the changes Cameron is proposing—publishing government spending and contracts online—you realise that these changes will never be reversed. Just imagine the fuss if a future government announced it was suddenly going to make all government contracts secret.
These changes along with the other government data that Cameron is proposing to publish will also empower citizens against the state. People will be able to see whether their services represent value for money far more easily than they can at present.
PS One thing that struck me watching this speech is how much more compelling a speaker Cameron is when he isn’t reading his speech.
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