Free and frank for whom?

Jack Straw declines to allow us 'free and frank' coverage of Cabinet discussions because this will inhibit them from having 'free and frank' discussions. What can this mean, other than that they are afraid that their real opinions will be so shocking to the people that they might elect them out of office? There is no issue here about protecting their freedom of speech - we want them to speak their minds, but as public servants we are entitled to eavesdrop. In fact, perhaps all Cabinet discussions should be on prime-time TV - would this be worse than Big Brother?