ID Stitch-up on the Cards?

headline, 04.07.05.

With the public turning rapidly against ID cards,
the events of 7 July in London might prove
convenient to those who wish to force through
draconian measures, such as ID cards.

Nick Assinder is one of the better BBC journalists. He notes in
'The political impact of the London bombs' that:
The arguments over identity cards and detention without
trial will take on a new urgency as ministers consider
any new measures to take in the wake of the attacks.

He recalls Tony Blair's ingratiating quote of 23.02.05:
"Were there to be a serious terrorist act in this country and
afterwards it was thought that we had not taken the measures
necessary, believe me, no one would be talking about civil
liberties; they would be talking about why we had not done
more to protect the security of this country"

It didn't take long for Assinder to be proved right. Various
politicians such as Home Secretary Charles Clarke and London MP
Siobhain McDonagh have been dropping hints. Leader of the Commons,
Geoff 'Buff' Hoon, tried to hype ID cards by claiming that they would
show who was in the UK at any time. (BBC Online, 31.7.05).

Ripping his 'logic' to shreds, the Daily Telegraph (01.08.05)
noted: "Promote the ID card over the passport and suddenly
every street corner, every shop counter, every turnstile in the
land will become a frontier, every movement suspicious, every
citizen a suspect. Rather than randomly extending controls
within the nation, the Government should be strengthening the
borders around it." and urged making current controls work.

(We could mention the various (and obvious) loopholes in his case,
such as in border security, short-term visitors, forged documents).

Former Home Secretary Blunkett bragged about ID cards
combating terrorism. Read Privacy International's rebuttal
(PDF file) based on actual experience?.

Statewatch have a good retort on the claims concerning
biometric passports and 'terrorism'

Don't let the government panic you into
accepting the unwanted and unworkable.

Date this page updated: 2 August 2005