Dear Winston

I filed OIAs with DMPC and the PMO about the powers of the Acting PM, and any related documents around the letter outling these.

DPMC basically did a blanket refusal on the grounds of free and frank advice.

The PMO withheld some info, but has released some correspondence which is interesting.

One amusing part is when a staffer e-mails Mike Jaspers saying the PM thinks the letter should start with “Dear Deputy Prime Minister” and Jaspers responds “It feels like a Dear Winston moment really”.

If I had the time, I’d appeal the refusals and redactions to the Ombudsman. Hard to say that there isn’t legitimate string public interest in this.