The Tory mask has slipped on Freedom of Information reform, as Chris Grayling confirms he wants to ban journalists from using FoI to hold the government to account. Grayling chillingly told the House:

“The Freedom of Information Act is something this government is committed to but we want to make sure it works well and fairly. It cannot be abused. It cannot be misused. It is on occasions misused by those who use it effectively as a research tool to generate stories for the media. That isn’t acceptable.”

Eh? The whole point of FoI is so journalists can use it “as a research tool” to expose government waste and wrongdoing…

Here are just a few recent stories that would not have appeared on Guido if Grayling had his way:

• McXlusive: Jim Murphy Claims For Irn-Bru on Expenses

• Taxpayer Billed Six Figures to Restore Whitehall Art

• Pro-EU Lobbyist in Heart of Whitehall

• Bercow’s £172 Expenses Bill to Drive 0.7 Miles

• Exclusive: Prince Charles’ Spy in the Cabinet Office

• 1,000 Pilgrims Culled

• Exclusive: Burnham’s Adviser and £170,000 of NHS Cash

• Tim Loughton’s Taxpayer Funded Retirement Fishing Trip

• Hague’s Taxpayer Funded Snake Stuffing

Openly targeting journalists who use FoI “effectively as a research tool” is a concerning attack on press freedom…