TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE PROPOSED ID CARD SCHEME BY THE HOME SECRETARY.

It may appear that today’s announcement by the home secretary Jacqui Smith is a climb-down on the part of the government, but it actually shows that the government is looking to use ‘stealth’ tactics to bring in the legislation they want. They intend to bring their ID card plans into force piecemeal to avoid a debate.

This brings into question the government’s argument that such measures are necessary to fight terrorism and illegal immigration. The elements of the original plans changed today were originally hailed as ‘vital’, but if this was truly the case, they would still be vital now.

Instead of arguing the case for ID cards the government intend to bully people into accepting them by slowly removing services from those who do not want to give up their privacy. Only recently, leaked government documents revealed plans to use ‘coercion’ tactics, specifically targeted at young people*. NO2ID believe that this is not acceptable in a free society and that these plans need to be stopped.

Simon Barnes
Canterbury NO2ID

*See http://wikileaks.cx/leak/nis-options-analysis-outcome.pdf for an annotated copy of the leaked strategy document.

About NO2ID

NO2ID is the UK-wide, non-partisan campaign opposing the government’s planned ID card and National Identity Register. We continue to actively campaign on all fronts for the abolition of the ID scheme and repeal of the Identity Cards Act 2006. There are numerous local NO2ID groups around the country.

To contact the Canterbury NO2ID group please get in touch with Carol McIntosh (canterbury@no2id.net).