Took a long time

Londoner's Diary, Evening Standard today:

15 July 2011 3:12 PM
Murdoch and No 10 — the secret is out
Move over Tom Watson MP. There’s an unsung hero in Parliament who has been chipping away at the cosy Downing Street-Murdoch nexus for years. Liberal Democrat peer Lord Avebury started a campaign in 2003 to get the Cabinet Office to reveal the times and dates of meetings between then PM Tony Blair and the media baron. He was initially rebuffed by Baroness Amos, the Leader of the House of Lords, who said such information was exempt from disclosure. When the Freedom of Information Act came into force in 2005, Lord Avebury tried again and this time was blocked by Downing Street. In 2007, the Information Commissioner caved in and produced the list. Last week David Cameron announced meetings would be officially recorded. “Now they are going to have to publish details quarterly,” Lord Avebury tells me.