Bringing Nothing To The Table

Well, as previously mentioned, Tony Blair is frightfully excited about the forthcoming (!) debate on ID Cards. This may not have trickled down to the rest of the party however, as today I received a "response" to the various questions I posed to Tessa Jowell. As she's a public servant I'm sure she wouldn't disapprove me quoting her form letter in full.

Dear Mr Scott,

Thank you for contacting me recently about ID cards.

Labour was elected on a manifesto that included the pledge to re-introduce a Bill on ID cards. I will be supporting that Bill when it is introduced.

The system will remain voluntary for the foreseeable future and any move to make ID cards compulsory will, as far as I understand, require the approval of parliament. The required technology is due to be introduced with biometric passports which will be needed for travel in Europe and North America in the near future. Any issues over reliability will, of necessity, be addressed as part of the introduction of that technology.

I have discussed this issue with many constituents. The majority of people I have spoken to in my constituency support the introduction of ID cards or are certainly not against them.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Hon Tessa Jowell MP

She utterly fails to even entertain the possibility of discussing my questions regarding the wisdom of sticking to the manifesto irrespective of whether or not it was the manifesto that led to the pencilled cross appearing in a particular box. The only question she comes close to answering she does so in the vaguest of terms.

I should point out, however, that she's so far abstained from every vote on this issue, which does make me wonder how comfortable she is with the party line, especially as she is a former party whip...