Labour's ID scheme is supposedly on the rocks, but let’s not be overly comforted by this news. There are good reasons to continue to build up the pressure. In particular, passport developments in the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and the European Union could result in alternative identity databases, and since the Act is on the statute books, compulsory ID could start at any future date.
LABOUR'S ID SCHEME ON THE ROCKS – a good reason to keep up the pressure!
From emails leaked to the Sunday Times on July 9th, a senior Whitehall official has said the multi-billion pound scheme for compulsory ID cards and the National Identity Register (NIR) could take years to introduce and is likely to end in failure, and officials responsible for ID in the crisis-ridden Home Office are preparing for the project to be 'canned completely'.
We can rejoice that a damning assessment from those closest to the plan should help to undermine Labour’s attempts to win support for ID cards. But let’s not be overly comforted by this news.
The reason we should be wary is even if the best happened and creation of a national register was scrapped completely, other developments in passports (that 80% of us have) are carrying on regardless. The UK ‘Identity and Passport Service’ will still be gathering more invasive biometrics in near future. They are already taking facial dimension info from photos, and passports are being issued right now have chips that contain this information. In any case biometric passports are likely to be made compulsory by the European Union.
A cut-down national identity register, or some alternative database, obtained from passport or driving licence applications, would still give the State a considerable increase in power that will enable them to stop and check our details and track people across borders. For migrant workers, the need to carry a passport would allow for further check-ups and other harassment within 'UK'.
So the date for starting to put passport applicants on the full-blown register may not happen in October 2006 as planned, but it could still result in a identity register-‘lite’. Plus we should not think that a delay is the same as scrapping compulsory ID for everyone. Now the Bill is passed, the scheme can be begun in earnest whenever this or any future government decides it, whatever the opposition politicians might say now. We should not forget that the Tories wanted an ID scheme in the mid-1990’s when they were still in power, and not be taken in by the two-faced promises of their leaders, from a party that will make up almost anything to get elected.
We need to keep up the pressure and refuse identity cards and database developments of any kind. Whatever happens to the scheme, we need to continue to build-up our anti-ID campaigning and make sure the State realises that we won’t let their repressive plans just fizzle out - without them first being made to understand the level of hatred for ID!
Links:
Nottingham Defy-ID:
http://www.nottingham-defy-id.org.uk/
Defy-ID: http://www.defy-id.org.uk/
No2ID: http://www.no2id.net/
From emails leaked to the Sunday Times on July 9th, a senior Whitehall official has said the multi-billion pound scheme for compulsory ID cards and the National Identity Register (NIR) could take years to introduce and is likely to end in failure, and officials responsible for ID in the crisis-ridden Home Office are preparing for the project to be 'canned completely'.
We can rejoice that a damning assessment from those closest to the plan should help to undermine Labour’s attempts to win support for ID cards. But let’s not be overly comforted by this news.
The reason we should be wary is even if the best happened and creation of a national register was scrapped completely, other developments in passports (that 80% of us have) are carrying on regardless. The UK ‘Identity and Passport Service’ will still be gathering more invasive biometrics in near future. They are already taking facial dimension info from photos, and passports are being issued right now have chips that contain this information. In any case biometric passports are likely to be made compulsory by the European Union.
A cut-down national identity register, or some alternative database, obtained from passport or driving licence applications, would still give the State a considerable increase in power that will enable them to stop and check our details and track people across borders. For migrant workers, the need to carry a passport would allow for further check-ups and other harassment within 'UK'.
So the date for starting to put passport applicants on the full-blown register may not happen in October 2006 as planned, but it could still result in a identity register-‘lite’. Plus we should not think that a delay is the same as scrapping compulsory ID for everyone. Now the Bill is passed, the scheme can be begun in earnest whenever this or any future government decides it, whatever the opposition politicians might say now. We should not forget that the Tories wanted an ID scheme in the mid-1990’s when they were still in power, and not be taken in by the two-faced promises of their leaders, from a party that will make up almost anything to get elected.
We need to keep up the pressure and refuse identity cards and database developments of any kind. Whatever happens to the scheme, we need to continue to build-up our anti-ID campaigning and make sure the State realises that we won’t let their repressive plans just fizzle out - without them first being made to understand the level of hatred for ID!
Links:
Nottingham Defy-ID:
http://www.nottingham-defy-id.org.uk/ Defy-ID:
http://www.defy-id.org.uk/ No2ID:
http://www.no2id.net/
Passport ID/database developments
25.07.2006 12:08
Alex Comfort
UK passport chip will contain 'biometrics' as well as photo scan
25.07.2006 12:43
Passport developments in the EU and internationally are likely to include fingerprints, and UK government is keen to get eye (iris) scans so these would both be likely additions to the chip. As far as I understand it (not 100% sure) fingerprints would be from every finger, not just the two from each hand that are already taken when entering USA. The DVLA (vehicle licensing) also did some trials with iris scanning. The government has given the contract to a company called Maperley to build the centres that will be used to get these biometrics.
Hopefully, building of these centres is also being delayed (?).
LINKS:
Full passport/ID interview/registration centres list and more details, including a UK location map and 3D graphic of proposed office layout, is available at:
About Maperley (company implementing interview centres):
Little Brother
A small question for the home secretary
25.07.2006 15:31
When we go and pick up our lovely i.d cards and get our vital statistics recorded, what form of i.d will we need to take along with us because I haven't got a driving license or a passport?? Could the i.d we take along to prove who we are have been forged/be incorrect?
Top Regards
Anon!
No id-ea
not on the rocks
25.07.2006 22:37
No it's just a obvious ruse to ensure that there is no opposition to the plans. Remember Blair is still in power.
Brian B
Reasons to be wary
26.07.2006 14:35
If it is a ruse, that's all the more reason to be wary.
So yes, Blair or the 3-headed Blunkett/Clarke/Reid monster might want to push this through regardless to save face, but let's not be afraid of winning either, if civil servants are already bickering and predicting panning of the scheme, or starting to covering their backs in case of failure.
Whether it's a ruse or not, and I would suggest on current information available it's not, other ID developments most certainly are carrying on in the form of passport enhancements. Plus there are also other ID-like developments going on in government I.T./database creation e.g. CORE (national electoral role) and Government Connect (which includes combining databases to allow things like collecting council tax payments online and chasing non-payers across council boundaries).
Ref:
Little Brother