Benjamin Harrop

Supports Scottish Independence/EFTA, currently @ schools, McDs, referee, camp counselor, currently reading about Watergate, occasional FOIer...

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

Finally having the decision notice into the Hamilton written evidence published since my FOI was submitted in April of 2021 after a prior notice relating to "not held" in January 2023, court case in December 2023 and revised response in January 2024 https://t.co/6wcoXxKcjh

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

I also, keep seeing the informatiom which I request, labelled as the "Salmond Files", they aren't "files" about Salmond, they are "files" about an investigation into Sturgeon. Unsure how fair it is for Mr Salmond/his family for his name to be used as a label for these "files".

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

party basis" so your essentials, you get some money back, but not all. "Agent-client, client paying" means that SG will pay nearly all of the SIC costs (https://t.co/l2QI8mvTop).

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

Also, another point to consider, the Judge Lady Poole ordered the SG pay expenses on a "agent-client, client paying basis", I may be incorrect here but that is from my research, and considering it is the SG, astonishing. Usually, the winner in a case gets expenses in a "party and

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

This is of course another frustrating element of this case and others. The SIC is taxpayer funded, as is the SG. The SG has their own legal costs = taxpayer funded, the SIC are going to have theirs paid by the SG using....taxpayer funds. We the taxpayers are losing here...

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

This is of course another frustrating element of this case and others. The SIC is taxpayer funded, as is the SG. The SG has their own legal costs = taxpayer funded, the SIC are going to have theirs paid by the SG using....taxpayer funds. We the taxpayers are losing here...

[Graham Grant @GrahamGGrant]

🔴 Humiliation for SNP as judge finds ministers broke their own freedom of information laws, holding them in ‘contempt’ 👇

https://t.co/QzKJtqFWHJ

#SNP #politics

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

to explore further, and indeed as Lady Poole notes that the SG and Michael Chalmers seemingly (I have not seen his affidavit) were annoyed with the SIC using his powers to refer to the Court due to their lack of compliance (which is his job) is deeply troubling.

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

On my break! A stand out part of the Judgement is attached. As Lady Poole points out, the SG help make the laws of this country, but in flouting the law of FOISA this was "reprehensible" . The SG have also failed to apologise to myself or the SIC, and have not set out how to stop

[Scottish Information Commissioner @FOIScotland]

Breaking: Scottish Government found in contempt over FOI practice.
Read more at: https://t.co/t9C3wuUeix

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

further behaviour of this sort by the SG, or any public authority that believes it can take its own time instead of complying with the SIC's ruling. Why it spent so long exploring avenues of appealing, instead of complying (and thus amounting to contempt) is something I intent

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

I am at work, on a double shift until 11pm so can't really analyse this. But big news, and another disgraceful day in the Scottish Government's handling of my FOI Requests in relation to the Hamilton Investigation. Someone has to take responsibility for this.

[Scottish Information Commissioner @FOIScotland]

Breaking: Scottish Government found in contempt over FOI practice.
Read more at: https://t.co/t9C3wuUeix

[David Hamilton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦 @DvdHmltn]

.@scotgov found to be in contempt of court over their FOI delay. 👇🏻

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

@conor_matchett How is it legal to raise money for a specific purpose, and then not spend it on that purpose? I doubt many people would have donated if they were donating to help day-to-day funding of the SNP? Is it because they are not a charity? Why is that even relevant?

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

Hahhaha who would ever donate to them again seriously?

[@GinaDavidson @ginadavidsonlbc]

@LBC @LBCNewsScot He is asked if any was used to repay the Weirs and says "what's important is that the SNP's resources are used for the purposes that they are intended" and how exactly is that? "the SNP as a party of independence, uses its resoures to support the arguments for independence"

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

One suggestion that may help... make political parties subject to FOI.

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

Amazing...

[Scottish Daily Mail @MailOnlineScot]

SNP bosses 'thought they were invincible'... and 'secrecy surrounded the finances' says former MP
.@DMScotPol
https://t.co/AIirjrvnlb

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

...

[Chris Musson @ChrisMusson]

EXCL: Nicola Sturgeon refused to give witness statement to SNP fraud probe detectives despite publicly claiming she would fully cooperate with police. By @conor_matchett https://t.co/XHjtz2pwyo

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

@PeterAdamSmith Have you asked Ms Sturgeon if she would sit down for an interview with yourself? Your forensic questioning is most welcome.

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

Unfortunately unlike with Watergate, we do not have pardons...

[The Daily Record @Daily_Record]

Tomorrow's Sunday Mail leads on: Nicola Sturgeon is facing legal action over money embezzled from the SNP after her estranged husband Peter Murrell was jailed #tomorrowspaperstoday

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

You can see their appeal numbers here: https://t.co/x3uoT9C2xd quite a sharp increase in late 2025.

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

The SIC in light of the record-high demand for appeals, have started limited the number of appeals they will investigate from one person at a time to 5. This limit raises serious Qs of transparency in Scotland, and again the need for the SIC's budget to be increased. Clearly

[Benjamin Harrop @benjamin_harrop]

The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body sets the SIC's funding, which is made up of the following MSPs