Secrets and Cash
So you hold a consultation to ask the public what you should do about something. 77% of them tell you to pick Option A. 12% back Option B. What do you do? Well, of course, if you are the NIO, you pick Option B.
That's the outcome of the NIO's
Option A - full transparency - was backed by Sinn Fein, Alliance, the Greens, the National Union of Journalists and various members of the public.
Option B - keeping the names of donors secret for another two years - was supported by the DUP and the UUP.
And I forgot to mention Option C - a bit more transparency but still no names for two years. It was backed by a further 12% (which brings our total to 101%), including the SDLP and the Electoral Commission.
The reason given by the NIO for rejecting the arguments of the 77% in favour of open government is that "it is clear that there has been a deterioration in the overall security situation in Northern Ireland in recent years. We believe that there remains a case for protecting donor identities for a further two years and will bring forward legislation to
provide for this."
The names of political donors had been due to be revealed when the current legislation expires in March. However the cloak of anonymity will now be extended until 2013.
I'm 
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