End Of The Beginning?

I've being paying lots of attention to the news blog on the No2ID site lately. The below was featured today:

“This is a debate which is just beginning. I hope there is a full debate where people can understand that as a result of the changes in biometric technology, and in particular as a result of the fact that we are going to have to change passports for everybody in this country, then it is a very sensible next step to make sure we can have proper protection against fraud and abuse.”Tony Blair during Prime Minister's Question Time June 8th 2005.

The No2ID campaign commented:

Hang on a minute. You attempt to steamroller through a piece of highly controversial legislation in the final months of the last Parliament, claiming extensive consultation and ‘overwhelming public support’, reintroduce it at the first opportunity (before even forming Select Committees to be able to give the lightly edited new Bill proper scrutiny) and then admit that the debate is only “just beginning”?!

We understand fine thank you, Tony.

Biometric technology has not ‘changed’, you’ve just discovered it for the first time.

There is nothing ’sensible’ about the ID cards Bill - it’s not even named correctly.

It is your government that has made fraudulent claims and that wants to abuse our civil liberties.

There has been no proper debate.

To which I have nothing to add, other than TB seems desperate to be seen as fulfilling his promise to listen, and that he welcomes debate only inasmuch as he is sure of what the outcome will be any way - note how he hopes the debate will demonstrate his viewpoint to people, rather than server to assure that the correct decision is made?

And sadly, Corin Redgrave suffered a heart attack last night while attending a council meeting to defend the rights of travellers in Basildon, and is now in a critical but stable condition. Saw him recently in the thoroughly entertaining Tynan diaries, and wish him a speedy recovery, for what it's worth.