Mission

A contribution to Open Government.

UK public companies are subject to unprecedented levels of financial disclosure and accountability.

As of September 2021 there were around two thousand companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, with a market capitalisation of around £ 3.7 trillion.   Each produce annual reports within three months of their year end which are then subject to scrutiny by a small army of analysts, journalists, regulatory bodies, and thousands of individual investors.  The largest companies take just a few weeks to produce quarterly financial statements and hold public briefings with analysts where the CFO and senior management defend its financial performance against informed criticism.

However, the largest UK public corporation, with gross liabilities of £ 2.2 trillion at March 2021, is subject to a far lower level of public accountability, whilst in fact producing a great deal of useful financial data.

It often takes fifteen or more months to produce audited financial statements, and, when they finally arrive, they are subject to scant public scrutiny or even interest.

Despite this minimal level of financial transparency, the performance of this corporation is hotly debated on a daily basis at Parliament, in the country's newspapers, by 200 or so UK think tanks, and amongst the population in general.  A torrent of debate often lacking reliable financial reference points.

In this way, all participants can have the satisfaction of arguing their point conclusively, whether in praise or criticism of the corporation's performance, whilst remaining safely incapable of being proved wrong.  A  fierce and passionate debate is thus able to circulate freely, absent learning or progress.

The corporation is called Her Majesty's Government.