20th October 2005

I am writing to express my dismay that the ID Cards Bill has been passed by the House of Commons despite widespread public outrage at the initiative. Stroud MP David Drew was among 18 Labour rebels who joined Lib Dems and Conservatives in opposition to the plans. Our Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda supported the government, and as a whip was probably involved in 'persuading' other Labour MP's to vote with the Government.

Though not unexpected, Mr Dhanda's move is a disgrace. ID cards are worthless on at least three counts:

First, they represent a threat to civil liberties, by effectively increasing state surveillance of individuals and intruding on our privacy. This would be an unwarranted change in the relationship between us the voting public and the State.

Secondly, there is the issue of cost. A London School of Economics  study concluded that each ID card would cost a minimum of £170. Although Charles Clark is now claiming that individuals will be charged only £30, or £93 for a combined passport/ID card, this begs the question how the government are planning to cover the deficit. This at a time when pensioners are being put in prison for refusing to pay unfair rises in Council Tax.

Finally, there seems little doubt that technology such as finger prints and retinal scanning will be far behind the capabilities of criminals to manipulate these systems for purposes of fraud or terrorism, the very crimes which the ID cards are supposedly there to prevent. They wont work for their supposed purpose, so why are the Government so keen to have them?.

Ironically, our only hope now lies with the un-elected House of Lords, which Tony promised to reform (with my support). Of course, Tony Blair will probably defy public opinion and common sense and force through this bill using the Parliament Act.

Bryan Meloy
Gloucester Green Party