The 'getting rid of identity cards'  Bill (for which I am the No2 and was on the front bench for the 2nd Reading this week) was, in a way, the culmination of a long-fought campaign by many groups- NO2ID, Liberty, LibDems andthe Conservatives et al. It felt so good to be able to take part beginning the process of getting rid of identity cards - and the database as well! Damien Green, who leads for the coalition on ID cards, told the House during his closing remarks on the debate, that his one, single rebellion throughout his opposition years to a three line whip was on ID cards - so most fitting that he is the man to bury them! It was pretty interesting to note too - when it came to the vote on 2nd Reading - Labour abstained. Given this was their cherished flagship policy - one might...

Great news today. The Coalition Government confirmed that the ID cards scheme will be scapped within the next 100 days.Labour pushed and pushed ID cards. The rationale changed over and over again. And then they tried to get take up voluntarily in pilot areas (including Liverpool and the North West). They spent huge amounts on marketing and planning.Anyway, it's great to see a manifesto promise being put into effect almost immediately. ID cards, and the associated database, would have been part of a change of the relationship between the citizen and the state - so thank goodness the scheme's been stopped in its...

An e mail alerted me to the possible arrival of an answer from the Home Office. Sadly so far all they've sent is an acknowledgement but they say they'll answer by 10th March.I asked a Freedom of Information question about ID cards marketing. Let's face it you can't go anywhere in Liverpool without seeing an ad for this "voluntary" scheme. Bus shelters, billboards, the local press, local radio - the ads are everywhere.I have asked for the cost of all this spend. ID cards are an illiberal waste of time so why the government thinks its all right to pour money into marketing to try to con us into applying for one is beyond me.I'll post again when I get my answer. How full an answer it will be remains to be...

More than half the public (53%) think ID cards are a bad or very bad idea when reminded that “The government has proposed the introduction of identity cards that, in combination with your passport, will cost around £93″. This compares to 37% saying they are a good or very good idea. Opposition to ID cards has grown since 2006 when only 33% opposed the idea. You can read more about the Liberal Democrat opposition to ID cards over on the Freedom Bill website. The results are from the State of the Nation Survey 2010, a new poll of 2,288  people aged 18+ conducted by ICM for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust 20 January – 7...

Well this one made me laugh. From Big Brother Watch Man can't prove ID with ID cardDarren McTeggart tried to use the £30 ID card to pick up a replacement credit card from a branch of Santander in Manchester, where the scheme was rolled out on a voluntary basis last year.Mr McTeggart, one of the first people to get the card, said: “They said it was not on their list of approved ID.“I sent an email to the head office, but they wouldn’t budge. The government has been pushing this card on TV and elsewhere so it beggars belief why the bank won’t accept it.”So chap buys into what HM Govt are saying about ID cards keeping us safe from dusky terrorists, stopping crime and ID fraud and yet his bank won't even accept it. Maybe Mr McTeggart should have asked why there are...

A great example of a minister: Identity minister Meg Hillier arrived at a photocall to promote identity cards, but then realised she left her own at home. So the ID card that has cost squillions and will save us from terrorists, even though the last lot who killed themselves in a terror attack were UK citizens an so would have had and qualified for ID cards(do think about that one); that is oh so handy to carry despite no readers for them being in any of the advertised places. Not hardly a one in any job centre, benefit centre, hospital, government agency or even police station. Yet if despite all that, if the Identity Minister cannot remember to take her ID card to a photo shoot designed to promote ID cards, then quite what is the bloody point? Listen, listen very carefully and...

Full Council tonight (9th December)This, pasted below, is one of the motions being discussed. Its being proposed by me and Cllr Steve RadfordCouncil notes that the Government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce identification (ID) cards. It is doing this through pilot schemes in the North West, including the planned launch of a scheme in Liverpool in January 2010. Council notes that the existing policy of the City Council is that it is opposed to the introduction of ID cards and the associated database. Council further notes that: - 1. Despite arguments by Labour ministers to the contrary, ID cards and the database will not prevent crime, terrorism or illegal immigration. 2. The introduction of ID cards would fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and...

Today's Daily Telegraph reveals that the daily cost to the taxpayer for the roll-out of ID cards is now six times the size it was just three years ago:Last month it emerged some 28 million people would have to sign up for an ID card in order to cover the cost of the scheme. The Identity and Passport Service spent a £42 million on developing both the ID cards and biometric passport programmes in the six months since March this year. That was equivalent of £229,508 every day – the highest amount of spending on the joint scheme so far. In 2008/09, a total of £81.5 million was spent – the equivalent of £223,288 a day. Between April 2003 and April 2006, a grand total of £41.1 million was spent – just £37,534 a day, although costs were always expected to rise as the...

The Exeter branch of No2ID got in touch with the latest findings from the group opposed to identity cards. They say that a new poll conducted by ICM for NO2ID shows that public support for ID cards is at its lowest point so far, with a clear majority opposed to the scheme. NO2ID has asked the same question about ID cards since June 2005, to reveal the trend in public opinion. From the latest poll, 60 per cent said they thought ID cards were a bad idea while 38 per cent said they thought they were a good idea. Asked separately about plans for a national database which lies behind the scheme, the public is opposed by a 2-to-1 majority. According to the anti-ID campaigners, the Home Office is still pushing ahead with the scheme. Gordon Brown misled many by his remarks at the Labour Party...

So, Gordon Brown makes a speech saying no compulsory ID cards which various Labour activists use in campaigning to imply its all been knocked on the head and shouldn't we all be jolly grateful.That's on Tuesday this week.Today the City Council gets a call from the implementation team wanting to discuss the plans the government has to roll out the cards in the north west.You really couldn't make it up.The fact is that Gordon's announcement means nothing. The Government has intended, for some time now, to work on soft targets to market the cards as some sort of voluntary benefit. Of course once enough people are conned we will find they want to make the scheme "cover everybody".I've been aware of the pilot in Manchester and the Home Office marketing spend. We now find they are trying the...

I’ll confess I am not actually listening to the Prime Minister’s speech to Labour conference, as I have far more important things to do, including biting my nails and feeding the cats. However, a quick refresh of Twitter shows that quite a lot of my friends are. And some of them have even been a little taken in by Brown’s ID card commitment. If Twitter is right – and I can’t be bothered to check – he said, “there will be no compulsory ID cards for British citizens in the next parliament” My goodness, but you can drive a double decker bus through the wiggle room in the loopholes there! There will be no compulsory ID cards for British citizens in the next parliament So there will still be pointless, wasteful ID cards then? There will be no...

The UK Government has been pushing the idea of National ID cards in the UK for some time now, the majority of the UK resident’s myself included really don’t fancy the idea of having to carry an ID card around which contains all our private details and information. Well it looks like we may have something to worry about, as an expert hacker Adam Laurie has managed to hack one of the UK National id cards, that are currently being used by foreign nationals who are working in the UK. The card features a built in microchip which according to the Government makes the ID cards ‘unforgeable’, the problem is that Adam Laurie was able to hack the chip in under twelve minutes. Using just a laptop and a mobile phone Laurie was able to create a cloned card, and then change...

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has created ‘identity rights’! Rejoice! He will continue to introduce ID cards by stealth, but worry not – your ‘identity rights’ will be guaranteed! The union flag has been left off the final design of the national identity card unveiled today in order to recognise the “identity rights” of Irish nationals living in Northern Ireland. Instead the ID card design unveiled by the home secretary, Alan Johnson, features a tasteful floral pattern made up of the shamrock, daffodil, thistle and rose alongside the Royal Coat of Arms. A Home Office spokesperson said today this was because “the card represents all the nations of the United Kingdom and the design reflects themes of Britishness and aspects of UK...

Frankly, the row over the fact that ID cards will not feature the Union Jack leaves me cold. We are told that the decision has been taken because of fears that it may upset members of the nationalist community in Northern Ireland. The cards will instead carry the Royal coat of arms along with images of a shamrock, a thistle, a rose and a daffodil to represent the four countries that make up the UK.In many ways it is an irrelevant storm in a teacup. What is most worrying about these ID cards is not what symbols will be on them but that the Government are wasting hundreds of millions of pounds of public money introducing them in the first place and that they are setting up a massive identity database to accompany them.These cards will not protect us against terrorism, crime or identity...

What has happened?On June 30th, Alan Johnson announced that ID cards would be voluntary for British citizens. This meant the ditching of a scheme that would have made it compulsory for airport staff and pilots at Manchester and London City airports to have them, as part of the ID cards trial. Previously, the government said they would be compulsory once 80% of the population had them. Johnson was also forced to admit that the government had previously wrongly presented ID cards as a ‘panacea’ for terrorism. Johnson did say he remained a supporter of ID cards and that the government was accelerating their role out. The pilot scheme currently being rolled out in Manchester (the city, not just the airport) will be extended across the North West next year. However, those applying for a ID...

ID Cards have been dropped by the government as a compulsory document that they were gonna make us carry around (it was also a piece of the jigsaw leading to the Police State) by the new Home Secretary Alan Johnson. First of all I would like to congratulate No2ID and other organisations that lead the campaign against ID Cards and I believe the government has done the right thing dropping the project.Labour did say that they were gonna listen just after the June 2009 Polls and I think that is exactly what is going to happened. Labour are now put into practice what the people want them to and you never know issues like this might just help them in the polls.Alan Johnson has made a massive move with his ID Card dropping it will reward him and probably Labour in the not so distant future is...

Amother day, another nail in the coffin of Labour’s increeasingly half-hearted attempts to force the British people to carry ID cards and enrtust their personal details to a national government database. The BBC reports: Home Secretary Alan Johnson has dropped plans to make ID cards compulsory for pilots and airside workers at Manchester and London City airports. The cards were due to be trialled there – sparking trade union anger. … But Mr Johnson said the ID card scheme was still very much alive – despite Tory and Lib Dem calls to scrap it. He said the national roll-out of a voluntary scheme was being speeded-up – with London to get them a year early in 2010 and over-75s to get free cards. Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne wasn’t impressed:...

Apparently new Home Secretary Alan Johnson is an ‘instinctive’ supporter of ID cards. Strange then to give the impression he’s walking away from them: A compulsory identity card trial for pilots and 30,000 other airport workers due to start in September has been abandoned by the new home secretary, Alan Johnson. But he intends to accelerate other elements of the scheme including plans to issue £30 voluntary ID cards to young adults across north-west England. Johnson is also looking at making ID cards free for over-75s. Longer-term plans to make ID cards compulsory for critical workers at rail stations have also been dropped. British citizens would not be forced to carry ID cards, insisted the home secretary. Johnson said: “Holding an identity card should be a...

The Register is reporting that the Home Office yesterday delayed awarding the contract for making ID cards until after the next General Election.While contracts for the Manchester Airport trial and the database have been awarded, the critical contract to actually produce the millions of ID cards needed for any sort of national rollout has not.This contract will now not be awarded until Autumn 2010, which means it won't happen at all unless Labour hold onto power at the General Election.With Tories and Lib Dems implacably opposed to this whitest of New Labour white elephants and even the new Home Secretary dubious about the whole business, this looks very much like that particular battle is...

Today's Sunday Times is reporting that new Home Secretary Alan Johnson wants to have another look at the plans to introduce ID cards. If he cancels them it'll be in the nick of time as we already know that the government has already identified certain groups to act as the first card holders (including the airport staff at Manchester which led to a protest by BALPA). We all know that ID cards won't achieve what the government says they will, will change the relationship between citizen and the state and will cost money that could be spent better elsewhere. Fingers crossed then that Mr Johnson does decide against and he can persuade his colleagues who have spent so long arguing in...

Some small hoons, 2nd rate troughligaters compared to Darling, Balls and even Cyclops.First up is Rudi Vis who receives second home allowance and claims £2,300 a month interest on a mortgage he took out in 2006 on his constituency home. Says main home is in Suffolk. Love murdering scum like Che and Fidel.Lynda Waltho claimed £1,680 for food in one year. Billed taxpayer for £472 bed, £81 sheets, towels and a pillow and £1,022 of electrical equipment. Also claimed for £380 armchair and £8.32 kettle. Voted to keep 2nd home allowance, ID cards and 42 days.Joan Walley claimed for more than £4,400 of furniture in London flat in 2004-05 and a £195 blanket. In 2005-06, claimed for £1,199 LCD Sony television. Fees office cut bill to £750. Again likes ID cards and 42 days.Bob Wareing...

So despite the government being essentially broke, despite their suppression of dissent in tatters, despite there being no case made for ID cards whatsoever (at least a believable one), mad Jacqui Smith is still going ahead with the plan: Manchester will this autumn become the first city where people can sign up for an ID card, Jacqui Smith has said. Anyone over 16 in the city with a UK passport will be able to apply for a card from the Home Office. The home secretary’s speech signals her determination to push ahead with the cards, which will initially cost £30, despite opposition. So here’s the question: why? Well look at this: The home secretary was speaking during a visit to Newall Green high school in Wythenshawe, a deprived part of Manchester. She took part in a...

On a more serious note, I have some questions about the ID cards that I hoped someone might be able to answer.  It was recently reported that the ID card program was launched in Manchester.  Furthermore, all foreign nationals (non-EU) were supposed to have ID cards starting last November. I looked into this issue and the government pages addressed those who are currently applying for visas to stay as a student or a spouse.  It mentioned that anyone applying would automatically have to apply for the ID card.  In addition, anyone who applies for an extension of their leave would get one.  It did not address those who already had extended leave.  I have a settlement visa, not a temporary one, but a permanent one.  I won’t be applying for an extension, so what do I do?  You...

Despite the current financia crisis and the threat of cuts across public services, the Government is still determined to roll out their costly Identity Cards.Manchester has been selected as the pilot area this autumn.Local residents who want an ID card can apply for it online and then attend the city's passport office, for fingerprinting, photograph and a possible interview, but cannot register the card at local shops or post offices.In 2010, students opening bank accounts will be "offered" ID cards along with the chance to get themselves into debt by signing up for a credit card.Interesting only students are being targeted in 2010. No doubt Labour would be to concerned about targeting non-students, worried about losing their votes.If Labour wins the next election, it will allows MPs a...

Airline pilots are to become the first group to refuse to take part in the national identity scheme when compulsory trials start at Manchester and London City airports this autumn.The British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa ), which represents more than 80% of commercial airline pilots, is to mount a legal challenge to Home Office plans to use "critical" airside workers as the first compulsory "guinea pigs" for the scheme.MPs are shortly to be asked to approve the powers to compel the pilots and other airside workers at the two airports to register for the national ID card scheme as part of their "pre-employment" checks. The £30 fee is to be waived as an incentive for them to sign up.The pilots' union has protested to ministers that the £18m scheme cannot be regarded as voluntary...

Encouraging news in this morning's Independent that senior cabinet ministers are privately discussing a plan to scrap the Government's £5bn identity cards programme as part of cuts to public spending:The ministers believe that some "sacred cows" will have to be sacrificed in the effort to reduce Britain's debt mountain. They are raising fresh questions over the future of the ID card programme as the Cabinet faces renewed pressure to find economies beyond a promised £9bn in "efficiency savings"."My sense is that ID cards will not go ahead," a senior Cabinet Minister said. "We have to find savings somewhere, and it would be better to shelve schemes like this that aren't popular."A ComRes poll for The Independent today finds 55 per cent of voters favour public spending cuts to reduce...

It appears the government (and by government I do not mean Gordon Brown or Jacqui Smith) is starting to worry about the message they’re sending out by holding on to their hugely expensive projects to control the population, at a time when they can’t afford to do so. Inevitably this has now come round to ID cards: Senior cabinet ministers are privately discussing a plan to scrap the Government’s £5bn identity cards programme as part of cuts to public spending, The Independent has learnt. The ministers believe that some “sacred cows” will have to be sacrificed in the effort to reduce Britain’s debt mountain. They are raising fresh questions over the future of the ID card programme as the Cabinet faces renewed pressure to find economies beyond a promised...

Veterans' ID cards 'will offer priority NHS treatment' - Telegraph More than four million military veterans could be issued with special "identity cards" giving them priority access to public services and discounts on public transport, the Ministry of Defence said last night A clever way to get ID Cards out there without us Libertarian Contrarians making a fuss. How could we campaign against Helping Heroes? I suppose we could point out that an ID card isn't needed to establish a fast track in the NHS(if that is what we want to create). Former service men already have NHS records where it is all recorded, all that is needed is stamp them "Priority Treatment". And if you want to give them bus passes, give them bus passes. No this is just another slimy exploitation of "Our Boys" by our...

Who cares? They can afford much more than that for their crazy wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, so this shouldn’t be an issue for an incoming Tory administration. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith however chose to remind MPs how difficult she still intends to make it to abolish her pet project: In an attack on the Conservatives, who have pledged to abolish the scheme, Ms Smith said doing so would “not free up a large fund of money to spend on other priorities”. But the Tories accused the Government of deliberately increasing the costs to make it hard for them to abolish the scheme. During Commons question time, Ms Smith said the Government was “on track” to introduce ID cards this autumn. She told MPs two contracts would be awarded next month - one to upgrade passport...

Well who would have guessed that this worthless shower of shit that make up HM Govt have been lying to us over ID cards.Phillip Johnson mocks this shower without mercy.After fighting tooth and nail to block their publication, the Government has finally been forced to cough up the so-called Gateway reviews of its decision to proceed with ID cards.Who would ever have thought Labour would be hoisted by their own FOI requests?Ministers fought to the bitter end against the request under the Freedom of Information Act.The reviews show that all the big arguments deployed for ID cards - they will stop terrorists, curb crime, limit immigration etc - were just so much eyewash...The review also identified a string of "important risks" of launching the scheme, including its sheer scale, the problems...