The public – and officials and experts - should be able to see the evidence behind policy decisions. Our recent Ipsos survey shows that two-thirds of people think it is important that government shows the public all the evidence used to make important policy decisions.

If we don’t know what government has looked at, we can’t follow the motivation for a policy, decide whether we agree with it, or judge whether it is working. Only by seeing the evidence used can outside experts evaluate and add to it and improve the evidence base for important decisions.

It prevents waste and avoids costly mistakes because by seeing the evidence used, one part of government can understand the intent of another or the insights of previous work.

The importance of government sharing the evidence behind policy has been repeated for 7 years, in multiple civil service reviews. The principles are codified in the Treasury Green Book, but the interpretation is inconsistent: most departments do some of it some of the time, but they should be doing all of it all of the time.

We have conducted three independent reviews, which found that government analysts want to share more of the rationale for policy, and some communicators and policy makers do too, but they don’t feel they have the mandate from ministers to do so.

We need an evidence standard – so we know what to expect as a public, and government officials and ministers know what they should deliver.

Whoever you plan to vote for at the next election, we are asking you to support us in making openness an election issue and calling for a commitment to a transparency standard.

We have already raised £5,000 but need £15,000 to start our campaign.

Between now and 14 January 2024, your donation will be matched by a generous supporter – we get an additional £1 for every £1 you give.

Help us in making public access to policy evidence an election issue no party can ignore – fund our campaign for a transparency standard in government.