Information Commissioner awarded CBE

Information Commissioner awarded CBE

Richard Thomas, the UK's Information Commissioner, has been appointed a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Mr Thomas has been Information Commissioner since 2002, soon after the organisation was first created.

The official citation for the appointment said it was given for "public service".

"I am delighted to accept this honour," said Mr Thomas in a statement. "It is testimony to the efforts of all those who protect personal privacy and promote freedom of information.

"I am proud to have championed openness and transparency, and I am delighted to have been able to bring home the importance of data protection," he added.

Perhaps awards should also be presented to The Daily Telegraph and to the person who leaked the MPs' expenses data, for outstanding service to the British public.

CBE for Information Commissioner (BBC News, 12 June 2009)