Politicians from across the region have warned against watering down the Freedom of Information Act.

A consultation has been launched into the act, which was created in 2000 to give the public "right of access" to information held by the authorities they pay for, leading to fears of it being watered down.

In the past, Birmingham City Council has called for a charge for requests, while making it easier to refuse requests on cost grounds is also now on the agenda.

The Post, along with sister title the Birmingham Mail, is calling on the Government to keep its hands off the act, which our journalists have used in dozens of investigations exposing issues the public deserve to know about.

And it has secured the backing of Birmingham MPs from both sides of the floor.

Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Erdington, said he would raise the issue in Parliament as soon as he could, with the commission set to publish findings next month.

"In a free society, freedom of information is essential," he said.

"The powerful must be held to account and should never be able to hide behind a veil of secrecy.

"The Government is wrong to restrict freedom of information and the Birmingham Post and Mail are right to speak out in the best democratic traditions."

Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell said he supported the campaign to ensure the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act remained.

He said he backed a review of the act but it was important this did not lead to it being weakened.

"The principle of Freedom of Information should be kept," he said.

"But I do think the system can be made to work better in the interests of freedom of information and good governance."

The Government's Independent Commission on Freedom of Information is gathering information for a ten-year review.

Charges for FoI have already been backed by the National Police Chiefs' Council and Birmingham City Council, which has in the past called for a £25 fee for any requests.

However, a council spokesman said it had not made a submission to the commission. West Midlands Police, however, is currently working on a submission that will be lodged in November.

Labour's Deputy Leader Tom Watson and the region's police commissioner are among those who have stood up against calls to weaken the act.

Mr Watson (Lab West Bromwich East) backed the campaign and said Labour would consider making FoI laws more powerful.

"I associate the Labour Party wholeheartedly with this campaign," he said.

"The Freedom of Information Act has held public institutions to account and if it is diluted it will mean taxpayers lose out. We will shortly be announcing a consultation to establish whether the FoI Act can be broadened and strengthened.

"It is one of the most important pieces of legislation that journalists have to hold the powerful to account. I hope people across the West Midlands will support his campaign."

The deadline to submit evidence to the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information is November 20.

It is widely feared the commission is the precursor to a move by the Government to weaken FoI by adding new restrictions on the release of information, strengthening the ministerial veto and adding new fees.

When announcing the review of the act, Justice Secretary Michael Gove said it was intended to address "defects" highlighted by former Labour minister Jack Straw.

Mr Straw, one of five members of the commission, has already made it clear that he thinks FoI goes too far.

Media industry title Press Gazette launched a petition urging the Government to back away from a bid to water down the act.

The petition describes any move to introduce fees for FoI requests as a "tax on journalism" that could severely hinder investigations.