17 Nov 2009
Mancunians have been urged by the Tories to ignore the government's launch of its ID cards pilot at the end of this month.
Speaking shortly after the launch was announced, Shadow Immigration Minister Damian Green said no-one in Manchester should "bother wasting £30 on an identity card" because an incoming Conservative Government "would scrap this expensive, intrusive and unworkable scheme".
He reiterated Tory policy shortly after Immigration Minister Phil Woolas enrolled for his own card. He said: "The Government shouldn't hoodwink Mancunians regarding the benefits of this card."
Obviously "Voter with a Long Memory" has a little trouble with reality. The ID card offered by the current government is technically unlikely to work if issued on a large scale (the Home Office's own scientists have told them that).
The concept implies that the government decides on our identity and can control how and when we are identified and to whom. The system contains a sinister register that will record every occasion on which a card is used - forever. Access to the register by government officials without the individual's knowledge or consent is allowed.
This massive centralised system is based on 1970s thinking about databases and is unnecessary in today's world where it is possible for anyone to prove their identity, or any other fact about themselves, by using PKI and trusted authorities.
The government has refused to listen to the experts and launched a massive (and probably illegal by EU law) invasion of personal privacy. The Tories and the LibDems have said they want no part of it. You don't have to agree with them on other matters to see that they are right on this one.
Contrary to Voter with a Long Memory's view, it is the Labour Party who are telling us what is good for us on this occasion.
Posted by: Simon Evans 19 Nov 2009
Typical bloody Tory, they always know what's best for people and just love telling them what to do. Arrogant or what? And anyway, what does he mean by 'unworkable'?
Strikes me that if they are being issued, and used, then they obviously aren't unworkable are they.
Man's an idiot.
Posted by: Voter with a long memory 18 Nov 2009
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