No ID-er

Oo, and do get along to no2id.net. They're keeping their petition open, and are looking for people to join and/or fund the campaign. Some of the government's plans are truly scary, so have a read. Their current thinking even includes the use of ID cards in purchasing goods - leading to the creation of virtual databases that will be grotesquely intrusive. It seems none of the arguments for the cards hold much water - they won't do anything to prevent terrorism, and there's nothing they do that isn't already done by other means via passports or national insurance cards. In fact, when they start talking about four-figure fines for failure to carry or present ID cards, you realise that the whole exercise will serve to generate more criminals.

And it seems significant that Labour has suddenly stopped telling us how much it is going to cost - there was a figure of £35 a year per individual bandied about for a stand alone card, and £75 for three-in-one card (ID, driving license, passport). Suddenly the £35 figure seems moot, and has been replaced by an undisclosed amount. Apparently they're looking at £5.5 billion for the first ten years - which I'm sure would serve a better purpose in the forthcoming pensions shitstorm.

The ID card system will be useless without substantial increases in police powers and an erosion of civil rights, and the scheme as it stands will only be the thin end of the wedge. When it becomes increasingly acceptable for previous misdemeanours and previous court appearances to be taken into account during trials, and when the government start redefining who can be classed as a terrorist then you know there are bad times ahead.

I'd write to my MP, but she's in the cabinet and used to be a party whip. All hail democracy.