samwise - you're conveniently forgetting that there is much more involved than deleting information related to a FOI request (which btw is an illegal act in the UK).

As far as this "new" approach - it has not yet been peer reviewed. It's only been submitted to a Journal. Perhaps you should wait until it's been reviewed. Preferably by people other than Jones, Mann, Briffa, et. al., who have pledged to "redefine what the peer-review literature is" if need be.

Since Mann was quoted saying the paper was "promising", it indicates he's already peripherally involved(perhaps as a secondary contributor, or a reviewer). I'm sorry - anything this crew touches is questionable. That's one of the penalties for committing scientific fraud.