Open government
Open government policies, guidance, news and related collections on the principles of transparency, accountability and public participation
UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Open Government
The UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Open Government (MSF) was formed in 2012 and exists to promote the principles of transparency, accountability and public participation across the UK. As part of this, the co-creation and implementation of the UK’s National Action Plans for Open Government are overseen by the UK MSF. Whilst the focus is the pursuit of openness of His Majesty’s Government (HMG), the UK MSF also seeks to promote open government across all levels of government within the UK, as well as abroad.
Readouts from recent meetings of the UK MSF can be found on the UK OGN website:
UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum Readout Wednesday 14th December 2022
UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum Readout Wednesday 18th January 2023
UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum Readout Thursday 27th April 2023
UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum Readout Thursday 22nd June 2023
UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum Readout Wednesday 18th October 2023
Declaration on Government Reform
The Declaration on Government Reform outlines how the Civil Service and Ministers will reform government together to deliver better for citizens.
Open Source
To support meeting the Technology Code of Practice, guidance has been developed to help government publish code and use open source to improve transparency, flexibility and accountability.
Open Government Playbook
The Open Government Playbook provides guidance and advice to help policy officials follow open government principles when carrying out their work.
Open Standards
The Open Standards principles lay out an approach for software interoperability, data and document formats in government IT specifications. Originally published in 2012, it has since been updated.
Open Public Services
The 2011 Open Public Service White Paper set out how public services were being made more open.
Open Government Partnership
The UK endorsed the Open Government Declaration as a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international movement to promote the open government principles of transparency, accountability and public participation.
Open Gov Week (OGW) is an OGP initiative typically held in May each year as a global call for action.
From September 2012 to October 2013, the UK government was the lead government co-chair of the OGP, culminating in the OGP summit in London in October 2013.
National Action Plans
The UK has regularly developed National Action Plans for Open Government since endorsing the Open Government Declaration in 2011.
Open Data and the Open Government License
The UK adopted the principles of the International Open Data Charter (IODC) and committed to being a Lead Steward of the IODC in 2015, building on its leadership on the G8 Open Data Charter, its earlier policy statement in 2012 Open Data White Paper, and the launch of its Open Data Portal in 2010. Open data is released primarily under the Open Government License that was introduced in 2010 as part of the UK Government Licensing Framework.
Freedom of Information
The 1997 Command Paper on freedom of information led to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Open Government White Paper
The 1993 Command Paper on open government laid the foundations for many subsequent open government efforts.
News
Last updated 13 March 2024 + show all updates
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Extensive changes to the format of the page. Many of the old links are now featured on this new page: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-national-action-plans-for-open-government
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Added the section and new page: UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2025
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Published the UK’s fifth National Action Plan for Open Government 2021-2023.
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Added 6th Open OPG Summit in Ottawa, DCMS-run sessions.
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Added information and links to UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2019-2021
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Updated to invite involvement in the UK's fourth Open Government National Action Plan (2018-2020).
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First published.