Students Against ID

PRESS RELEASE
Date: 20th September 2006

Immediate

Manchester University Students Oppose National Identity Register

Students at Manchester University have sent a clear message to the Government ahead of the Labour Party Conference by forming a society opposed to the National Identity Register and Identity Cards.

The Identity Register is expected to form an essential part of the Government's plans for future legislation, despite it being repeatedly shown that they will offer no benefit to counteract their cost, and will cause major problems for everybody in the UK, especially students.

Andrew Bowman, Students Against ID President, said "The creeping compulsion of the Identity Register means that students may be among its first victims when forced to register to access student loans. Students are not well-placed to deal with the red tape of the Register, nor the large fines imposed for failing to keep the Government informed of all changes of address. This invasion of our privacy and liberty comes at too high a cost to the NHS, to education, and to other areas of society, for no benefit."

Students Against ID will be gathering at 12:30pm on Friday 22nd September, in front of the Manchester Evening News building and courts on Deansgate, to draw attention to the issue of identity cards. They will be supported by members of Manchester NO2ID, who have spent the last four months raising awareness and opposition to Identity Cards within Greater Manchester.

ENDS

NO2ID is a non-partisan campaigning group opposed to ID Cards and the Database State. It has active groups throughout the UK.

Manchester NO2ID is a new local group looking to inform the public and encourage peaceful opposition to the National Identity Register. For more information, please contact Dave Page on  manchester@no2id.net.
Students Against ID is a new student society at Manchester University to unite students in opposition to the National Identity Register. Similar societies are expected to be set up at universities nationwide. Students Against ID is a project of Youth Against ID, an independent organisation to educate and unite young people against the Register.