In September I wrote in a blog about climate change :  “Nobody minds the campaigners proclaiming the truth of the science behind man-made global warming. But I do slightly resent the way they seem to believe they own it.”

Seldom was truer word spoken in jest. The Times today reports that the University of East Anglia broke the law by refusing to comply with requests for climate data under the Freedom of Information Act. The Information Commissioner says UEA failed in its duty under the act, but can’t be prosecuted because the complaint is out of time.
 
In science, refusing to let others see your data is the crime against the Holy Ghost, the gravest of all sins. By allowing it to happen, UEA has made the task of changing global behaviour that much harder. Vicky Pope of the Met Office says in The Times today that it is a communication problem. It’s much worse than that.