1984 Stroud Theatre Company success

A Northern Broadsides / Dukes Lancaster Production in Association with the Ruscombe-based Stroud Theatre Company presented GEORGE ORWELL’S 1984 at the Tobbaco Factory in Bristol (see photo). See original post here and preview video here.

This was a wonderfully innovative production with 7 flickering TV screens and all the essence and depth of the book....chilling is not the word - it was deeply, deeply disturbing - and magnificent! This is the novel in a visual form that is in many ways more disturbing than the book - or is it just that my school days reading of the book has dimmed? I was expecting to be unsettled but this went further....we follow Winston's hope only to be dashed....oh for a little more hope in Orwells story....

The Stage wrote: "One of the most disturbing elements about any revival of George Orwell’s once bleakly futuristic vision of totalitarianism is just how much of what he viewed as unthinkably awful now seems almost mundanely acceptable....Haverson brilliantly executes the transformation of Winston - from curious to love struck, and from enlightened to brutalised. The torture scenes are as effective as they are disturbing. Again not surprising to 2010 eyes but none the less a vision of something even Orwell may have blanched at."

Winston was indeed brilliantly played, as were all the cast - and indeed the set and amazing graphic film that enhanced the whole experience.

As The Guardian review commented "Many of the book's broader predictions – Big Brother, Newspeak, Room 101 – have become common currency. Watching Nick Lane's adaptation you are struck by how many smaller details Orwell also foresaw: a state-run lottery, shoot-'em-up movies, and a two-year wait for a plumber."

Carolynne on ScanOnline reviewed making a similar point: "As Northern Broadsides began their run of 1984 at The Dukes in Lancaster, I could not help feeling Orwell’s words are often ringing true today: Guantanamo Bay, waterboarding, the War on Terror and the use of the media for propaganda by governments across the globe all serve as a stark reminder of Orwell’s nightmare....Turning from the play itself to its relevance today, more than 60 years since Orwell’s original novel was penned, our leaders, following the defeat of Nazism, Fascism and totalitarian Communism, would have us believe that utopia is in sight. Francis Fukuyama wrote that we are all headed on a wagon train to a liberal democracy utopia. Looking through the news and at events, injustices and inequities across the globe, I doubt them very much. So, I believe, would Orwell. After all as he put it when Winston is tortured in Room 101 by his captors “we do not seek to destroy our enemies, we seek to change them”. Echoes of enforced economic liberalism and the current chaos in Iraq anyone?"

Indeed I have to note being shocked by Bush openly saying this last month that he supported 'waterboarding' - a practice widely used in interrogation - yet it was a crime under US and international law - British officials at least dismissed his claim that there was any evidence that the practice saved lives. Worrying though is that Obama has chosen not to investigate - although at least has ended the practice. Also the CIA officers who destroyed the latest lot of evidence 'torture' tapes will not be charged. What sort of world is this?

However we can at least welcome the abolition of ID cards - although the Deputy Prime Minister has proposed that from 2014 all voters will have to register themselves, providing "signature, national insurance number and date of birth", converting the current electoral roll into a centralised population register little different in principle to the ID scheme database. No2ID comment: "Systematic abuse of the existing electoral roll already discourages registration and facilitates fraud; sucking up even more personal information can only make this worse. And what other purposes will be found for the new system? History has shown how such bureaucratically-driven registers, and their uses and abuses, only expand over time. Just as worrying are the 'cross-matching' powers to be given to local authorities to track down the unregistered. With echoes of Clause 152 - the Ministry of Justice's blatant attempt to "overcome the barriers to information sharing across the public sector" which NO2ID helped defeat in 2009 - these new powers would overturn the fundamental data protection principle that information gathered for one purpose may not be used for another without consent. Individual voter registration does not require a centralised database, any more than ID ever did. The government should be reining in mass data-snooping, not extending and encouraging it. And, given that voting is voluntary, why should councils spend money chasing people onto the electoral roll who don't want to be there? Will forcing people to register make them more or less likely to vote?"

While on database state stuff - as noted on this blog the new government pledged to scrap the Summary Care Records but has since broken that pledge and is continuing the SCR roll-out. However a welcome goes to the proposals to require the consent of both parent and child before any fingerprint can be taken by a school. Although I find it extraordinary that we have now reached a place where schools are fingerprinting children as young as five re attendance, school meals, library books and more - should we really be subjecting children to the dehumanising effects of fingerprinting from such an early age. Two years ago, more than a third of local authorities and 26 schools were using biometric data systems and it is understood even more have introduced them since or are planning to. A local nursery has fingerprinting technology for use with parents - see here - and see here a letter to local press in 2007 about the 29 of our 287 County schools fingerprinting pupils then!

Terry Dowty, of campaign group Action on Children’s Rights, said: “We are conditioning our children to accept a surveillance society. If they grow up thinking it is all right, in future years the boundaries will be eroded even further. We are on a very slippery slope.”

Lastly it was only a couple of weeks ago that I read that while you watch screens, screens will watch you - see computerworld here: "Orwell's telescreens served as an instrument of government propaganda and control. In our world, such technology exists, but starting next year it will serve the purpose of Huxley's Soma: to entertain, pacify and encourage consumption."

Talking of which see here my previous blog entry on Aldous Huxley vs George Orwell.But hey to get back to the play - it was great but sadly that was the last show of the current tour but am sure it will pop up somewhere else? I hope so as it is worth the watch but not for the faint-hearted.

NHS Patient record system: halted but not stopped

I have long opposed moves towards the database state - in recent blogs I have opposed the NHS record system - see here - and see my calls to opt out here - the British Medical Association has already called for the upload to be stopped because of "serious misgivings about everything to do with care records including the way consent has been gained." Indeed GPs are still discussing a boycott of the system.

A recent analysis of the system by University College London found that 80 per cent of patients did not remember receiving the leaflets or had simply thrown them away. There is also no information on how children can opt out, although the Department of Health said that parents could inform their GPs if they wanted this to happen.

Well now the NHS patient record leaflet campaign has been halted but not stopped. The Government has ordered health authorities to stop mailing out information leaflets on the system designed to put patient records on to a central computer system because of concerns that it did not make it clear how people could opt out.

When Channel4 asked the Department of Health why the programme had not been suspended until the reviews had been completed, a spokesman said: "We believe the decision on whether to create new Summary Care Records must continue to be taken locally by GP practices and Primary Care Trusts. We are fully committed to the specific reviews we have announced in relation to the information sent to patients about the Summary Care Record and the process by which they can express their preference, and the review of the content of the record. All new mailings of letters informing patients about the Summary Care Record have been paused while this review takes place." See Channel4 here.

I hope this means there is a chance to see sense but I fear this system will still be introduced....

Opt out of health records

I have several times expressed concern about our health records - see a year ago here my concerns - well the Department of Health is trying to roll out Summary Care Records to millions of patients before the general election. Those who have received mail shots now have less than 12 weeks to act, if they want to preserve their medical confidentiality.

Cartoon from Russ

The NHS Confidentiality campaign which was set up to protect patient confidentiality and to provide a focus for patient-led opposition the government’s NHS Care Records System has continued to campaign on this issue with the effective campaign group NO2ID. However it is not just them - the British Medical Association and GPs' leaders are also deeply concerned and have told the government to stop letters being sent out to patients across England until they include an opt out form.

Patients are being misinformed - not least about who will have access to their records. The leaflet 'Changes to your health records' states that "anyone who has access to your records... must be directly involved in caring for you". THIS IS UNTRUE: the Department's own documents show that government officials and many others will have access "in the public
interest", "by statute" (remember Clause 152!) or by court order.

Not surprisingly independent evaluators have noted that in the pilot areas 7 out of 10 patients weren't even aware that a Summary Care Record had been created for them.

Here is what NO2ID cards people write: "The Department is deliberately trying to make opt out difficult. Not only isn't the opt out form included in the information pack, you are supposed to phone a call centre for one, trawl the NHS website for a download (no direct link is given) or ask your doctor (who may have no forms, or know little about the process)."

I opted out a while ago download details and an updated leaflet which explains what is going on and provides an opt out letter for people to use here: www.no2id.net/downloads/SCR_optout_sheet.pdf

You do not need to opt out again. If you have opted out already and haven't moved to a different practice, you should be fine. If for any reason your practice asks you to use the 'official' form, simply ask them to provide one - or to respect your clearly stated wishes in the form you have given, which provides all the same information. More than likely, your doctor is on your side.

I see here that local medical committees have reported that their attempts to include opt-out forms in information sent to patients has been blocked. Meanwhile, a glitch at a mailing house used by NHS Connecting for Health has led to patients receiving information packs addressed to other patients! All this not good news and just adds to concerns. I mean where on earth are we heading - Birmingham Airport has just introduced new face recognition gates (currently optional) which can be used by adults with a biometric passport from the UK or EU.

The government now expects to have issued 17 million ID cards by 2017 - what a tragic waste of money. Indeed I now see that the UK ranked has been 6 in global list of repressive regimes! A report from the US internet security company Cryptohippie puts the UK at number six in the list of the world's most repressive regimes in terms of the electronic surveillance of its citizens. The report 'The Electronic Police State, 2010 National Rankings' says: "The UK is aggressively building the world of 1984 in the name of stopping 'anti-social' activities. Their populace seems unable or unwilling to restrain the government". The report defines an electronic police state as being characterised by "State use of electronic technologies to record, organize, search and distribute forensic evidence against its citizens".

OK this is a ranking in terms of surveillance - and I find it more than disturbing that our Government should want to spend such vast sums of money watching us all.

Videoing journalists is a step way too far

I had a rant just last week about the threats to our liberties - see here - any-which-way you look at it the British Government has spent the past decade carrying out a wholesale assault on our rights and freedoms, from ID cards and the DNA database to detention without trial and infringements on free speech.

As Greens, we have a strong and proud tradition of direct action and peaceful protest. This week commendable work by The Guardian newspaper has revealed the extent of police surveillance not just of those who join marches and demos, but the journalists who act as the eyes and ears of the public. This is surely a step way to far? What sort of society are we creating?

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, commented: "The police need to distinguish between crime and democratic dissent or they will find themselves on the receiving end of the law."

Coroners and Justice Bill seriously threatens our liberty

Today marks the 57th anniversary of the day in 1952 when the abolition of wartime ID cards was announced in the House of Commons. As part of Churchill's "bonfire of controls", the government abolished national identity cards with much support from the population. Now we see that the lessons of the past have been forgotten.

No2ID cards in their latest email highlight this poster which was produced in 1939, as Britain prepared for war and the year ID cards were last introduced in the UK: "It is summing up the current mood amongst civil liberties campaigners. As the Coroners and Justice bill (see more below) makes its way through parliament the poster, entitled 'Freedom is in peril', strikes a chord with anyone concerned about the threats to privacy that confront us today. The full text says 'Freedom is in peril defend it with all your might' and it was part of a series supposed to convey a message from the King to assure the people that all necessary measures to defend the nation were being taken and to stress an 'attitude of mind'."

The poster was apparently deemed ineffective because of ‘the abstractness of the words, not one of which had any popular appeal’. Criticism had been raised that "Freedom" was rather an abstract concept and was 'likely to be too academic and too alien to the British habit of thought'. I hope this does not apply to people in the UK today.

Encourage MPs to sign EDM

Card: from Russ

David Drew MP has supported the moves towards ID cards. I hope we can change his mind - it is not only a human rights issue it is also the vast costs - particularly when we should be sp[ending those billions on real threats like climate change. John Leech MP for Manchester Withington has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons against the proposed pilot of ID cards in Manchester. The EDM notes: "the rising levels of public discontent over the scheme; and calls on the Government to halt the identity card scheme without delay". Please write to your MP using:
http://www.writetothem.com and ask him or her to sign EDM 672.

Why concerns now?

The government's stated intentions are: "to overcome current barriers to information sharing within the public sector". Now the Ministry of Justice has launched an extraordinary coup. It wants to convert the Data Protection Act into its exact opposite, into a means for any government department to obtain and use any information however it likes. Here's what NO2ID say: "Hidden in the new Coroners and Justice Bill is one clause (cl.152) amending the Data Protection Act. It would allow ministers to make 'Information Sharing Orders', that can alter any Act of Parliament and cancel all rules of confidentiality in order to use information obtained for one purpose to be used for another. This single clause is as grave a threat to privacy as the entire ID Scheme. Combine it with the index to your life formed by the planned National Identity Register and everything recorded about you anywhere could be accessible to any official body. That is what we meant by "the database state". It is now a threat not a theory."

Next Saturday there are events around the country connected to The Convention on Modern Liberty in London - Greens will be at many of those events.

Rainbow flags to fly again in Glos? And petition to sign?

Greens in the SW have launched a new LGBT group (see here) - they are already approaching Councils to promote International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) - Bournemouth and Poole are already signed up. Read on also for petition to sign.

Photos: Pride flags flying previously at Ebley Mill and Sub Rooms after my request supported by the local Glos Pride group

Some may ask why such a move is needed but we should not forget that there are 77 countries in the world today where it is a criminal offence to be gay. These countries punish women, men and children because of their sexuality and in seven countries the punishment is death. This day provides a platform for everyone to make a powerful statement to demand improvements for the quality of life for LGBT people both overseas and here in the UK. The 17th May is used to raise awareness of homophobic issues that are negatively impacting on people’s lives and to showcase success stories where a positive change has been achieved.

Locally Greens have been involved in the County Pride events and many other related issues from calling for hate crime legislation to condemning attacks - we were the only political party marching at the first event - see here. I am appalled that suicide statistics show that 40% of gay boys bullied at school have gone on to attempt suicide. I am also angered that the National Blood Service discriminates against gay people and refuses to let them give blood...there is more....

This year I've been speaking to one of the organisers re this year - they will consider helping call on local councils to fly the flag for IDAHO and Pride - but at the moment are still trying to make the event happen - it is planned for Cheltenham - see here - but so far it appears they may not have had the support needed from the Borough - let's hope things come together...it is an important event that raises the profile and challenges those who think discrimination no longer exists or is nothing to worry about....

I just heard that the 'new' head of the Metropolitan Police insisted that the rainbow flag was taken down from a police station in the East End of London where it had been flying to denote respect for LGBT History Month. They're perfectly entitled to do this as they're only supposed to fly the union flag and the flag of the local police authority, but in Brighton the Police fly the rainbow flag for IDAHO and Pride.

Anyhow last week there was a mini-storm in the local paper (see here) when some hit out at a city cinema's decision not to show the recent blockbuster "Milk". The story is about California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White. I've heard it is an important film worth seeing - it does seem disappointing that it is not being shown at Cineworld here - although it is elsewhere at their cinemas.

Petition to sign?

Many will know my total opposition to the nonsense of the hugely costly and pointless ID cards - well here is another aspect of them that is set to cause problems for a small number of people. Gender Spectrum have launched an on-line petition aimed at ensuring the safety of members of the community who do present themselves in a manner which is not the same as the gender to which they were assigned at birth. Heres a bit more about it - please consider signing urgently as consultation closes on 13th Feb:

The guidelines at present will require people to have their gender (determined as either Male or Female as reflected by their Birth Certificate) announced on the ID Card. If a person wishes to present in a manner that is not the same as their Birth Certificate they will have to undergo a process to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) or hold 2 ID cards. This means that unless a GRC is obtained, the person will need to have two ID cards. Both will be in the persons legal name, but one will identify the person as male, the other as female. The one in the birth gender will be valid for travel throughout Europe, the other will not. Once a full GRC has been issued, a single ID card will be issued in the acquired gender. Each of these individual cards must be paid for in full. The initial proposed fee of £30 will only remain until 2012. Anyone who wishes to obtain a Passport must also obtain an ID card under the proposals. The guidelines also state that the database will also keep details of your birth gender, even after a GRC has been issued.

Here's what those setting up the petition say:

We believe that there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. We believe that a person carrying two ID cards, each bearing details that conflict with the other, will be become vulnerable and at risk from harm from foreign security services or members of the public, particularly in volatile countries and/or situations. We believe that this puts many peoples lives at risk. We also believe that this puts many people who do not have a GRC in a vulnerable position. For this reason we have taken two specific actions and would appreciate your support by taking action.

1. We have drafted a letter that you are welcome to download and send to Robin Woodland at the Home Office. You may use it in its entirety or as a template to compose your own letter
2. We have started an on-line petition which we would love you to sign

The document is available for download from:
http://www.alisonwhelan.co.uk/id_cards.htm

The on-line petition is available at:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/TransID

A lifetime of ID Control

As noted a combination of work commitments and broadband difficulties means that I wont be able to update this blog until around 16th. I have also changed the 'Comment' setting so that they wont be added until my return (this is after having over 60 spam adverts added last time). But I have scheduled a couple of blogs in my absence so it will not be all quiet here. Here's another:

Photo: See how this was created here.

The government has now launched a consultation into secondary legislation under the ID cards act, some details of the civil penalties under the act have emerged. Regular blog readers will know I am wholly opposed to this move and publicise here some of the latest developments courtesy of NO2ID...

Here is how NO2ID describe what this will mean under a heading 'A lifetime of ID Control': "For instance you could have £1000 penalties sent to you by e-mail if you fail to turn up at a time and place of their choosing, refuse to be fingerprinted, photographed or hand over documents (e.g. birth or marriage certificates), or fail to tell them you've moved house for 3 months. Anything that the Identity and Passport service think is "deliberate or reckless" provision of incorrect information could lead to 2 years in prison. Other dubious 'highlights' include: a tax on marriage - women who change their name will have to buy a new card; those without bank accounts won't be able to get ID as you can only pay by credit or debit card, or cheque; and the homeless will be able to nominate a park bench as their 'address'. Welcome to a lifetime of state identity control!"

The Coroners and Justice Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech last week has extraordinary new data-sharing powers which could be exercised without Parliamentary debate. It seems the government is trying to sneak through new powers in a bill "to create the new role of The Office of the Chief Coroner".

Here is NO2ID again: "The new powers follow on from the Thomas/Walport Data Sharing Review which recommended "that where there is a genuine case for removing or modifying an existing legal barrier to data sharing, a new statutory fast-track procedure should be created". Jack Straw highlighted these new 'fast track' data-sharing powers which he said will "simplify the data protection framework and remove any unnecessary obstacles to data sharing".

"These powers would allow the government effectively to set aside not just the Data Protection Act and data protection principles when it suits, but the much more fundamental protections of Articles 6 and 8 of the ECHR/HRA, of common law confidentiality and of ultra vires (Ultra vires refers to acts of a public body which fall beyond its jurisdiction or remit). This goes far beyond data protection into administrative and constitutional law. Rather than protecting our personal information as it should, the government is cutting away safeguards for its own data-trafficking convenience. This bill as it stands smashes the rule of law and builds the database state in its place. We need to do everything we can to stop these powers being passed otherwise it really could mean the end of privacy as we know it."

Plan to log your visit Ruscombe Green

The latest outrageous plan by the Government to increase our database state is the Communications Data Bill - this proposes to record - for life - the details of everyone you call or write to and what websites you visit.

Photo: view of Ruscombe

This raises not just the prospect of a new, massively intrusive surveillance database, but - according to the Sunday Times - the possibility of compulsory registration of mobile phones. Negative media coverage has forced the Home Secretary to announce further 'consultation' on the Bill in the new year and a flat denial from the Home Office on mobile phone registration.

Monitoring your communications is in many ways more intrusive than searching your home. It should only ever be done under warrant with good reason. The general convenience of the Home Office is a very bad reason indeed.

As NO2ID ask: "Do you want the state (and anyone who can gain access to the system) to have a record of your religious and political beliefs, your sexual interests and relationships, your financial and medical worries - "just in case" they ever become of interest to the authorities? You wouldn't tolerate someone creeping into your home at any time, night and day, to go through your and your family's private things. You shouldn't put up with this."

See Open Democracy article here and NO2ID here - and make your thoughts known to our Government. This comes on top of news that the Home Secretary has brandished a new plastic card to be issued to some foreign residents from November - she is calling it an "ID card" for foreign nationals. This cynical branding exercise with its sly appeal to xenophobia should fool no-one.

As regular blog readers will know I have totally opposed the push for ID cards - indeed the Government have failed to convince industry and employers, the unions and the public at large that ID cards are necessary or desirable - now it seems they are picking on soft targets - anonymous individuals seeking marriage visas or education - those who have no choice but to keep quiet and comply. And if the statements of junior minister Meg Hiller at Labour Party conference are to be believed, they also intend to target children as young as 14.

Ministers try to give the impression that their National Identity Scheme is inevitable - It is most definiately not. All the opposition parties are committed to scrapping it and, without the National Identity Register (the database at the heart of the scheme) and with the repeal of the Identity Cards Act we can - and shall - go back to being a free country.

Locally Jeremy Hilton, Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham was reported in the paper re his anger at the scheme - his wife Polly, a Chilean woman who has lived in Gloucester for over a decade will have to get a card - and indeed my Norwegian partner who has lived in Stroud well over 20 years looks set to also need a card as Norway is not part of the EU. What utter nonsense and waste of money...

Report warns of EU strategy to harness the 'digital tsunami'

ID cards, fingerprinting and all the push for that stuff concerns me greatly - a report released on Wednesday only adds to those concerns.

Photo: View across to Stroud

Statewatch released the 60-page report, seven years on from 11 September 2001 and entitled 'The Shape of Things to Come' by Tony Bunyan - it looks at the EU's new five year strategy for justice and home affairs and details how European governments and EU policy-makers are pursuing unfettered powers to access and gather masses of personal data on the everyday life of everyone - on the grounds that we can all be safe and secure from perceived 'threats'.

The proposals set out by the shadowy "Future Group" set up by the Council of the European Union include new technologies of surveillance, enhanced cooperation with the United States and harnessing the "digital tsunami". A rather insensitive concept to say the least - anyhow in the words of the EU Council presidency: "Every object the individual uses, every transaction they make and almost everywhere they go will create a detailed digital record. This will generate a wealth of information for public security organisations, and create huge opportunities for more effective and productive public security efforts."

I can only agree with the Statewatch report call for a “meaningful and wide-ranging debate” before it is “too late” for privacy and civil liberties.

Eight page Conclusions: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2008/sep/the-shape-of-things-to-come-conclusions.pdf
Copy of full report (pdf): http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/the-shape-of-things-to-come.pdf

It is not as if the technology is working - yet all air passengers will have to give their fingerprints - a NO2ID supporter writes: "A frequent traveller who visits the US regularly and is enrolled on their fingerprint database for foreign nationals was refused entry on arrival from New Zealand. When she eventually proved who she was and was admitted, the immigration officer stated 'This quite often happens with long-haul passengers, the aircraft pressurisation alters the fingertip geometry beyond the tolerance of the biometric measurements'."

The Daily Mail asked if this was for security or simply to raise profits for the duty-free shops? The measures, which will apply to both domestic and international passengers, are being introduced despite opposition from the Information Commissioner, Britain's privacy watchdog.

Meanwhile I did not have to look far to find these stories in the national press in the last weeks:
- German firms are illegally trading millions of sets of personal data drawn from the official registration system.
- a computer hack allowed researchers to clone identity cards that are used by million of people to access buildings and travel on public transport
- a consignment of 3,000 "useless" blank biometric passports has been stolen on its way to British embassies throughout the world - or at least, the Identity & Passport Service says they're useless. Commentators suggest this claim is based on the standard, highly optimistic party line that, as the passports contain a chip, they can't be used to produce fake passports.

Challenge Italian discrimination of Roma/Gypsies

A while back I was shocked top hear that Italy's interior minister Roberto Maroni had proposed a policy of police fingerprinting of all members of the Italian Roma/Gypsy Community.

Photo: Ruscombe tree

I am now even more shocked to learn that according to the Guardian newspaper, fingerprinting of Roma children has already begun. Moreover, Italy's highest appeal court has, in effect, ruled that it is acceptable to discriminate against Roma on the grounds that "all Gypsies were thieves".

As part of my postgraduate Social Work course I spent some time talking and working with travellers and gypsies in the Southampton area - there are many issues re this - see some in my previous blog here where I remember talking to a Police Officer there saying: "I have to say we don't like these travellers coming here - not because of what they do, but every thief from miles around descends on the area to target homes in the area as they know the travellers will get the blame."

It was only in May 2008 there were rumours of an abduction of a baby girl by a Gypsy woman in Naples that led to an outbreak of racist violence against Roma camps. The response by Minister Maroni to this was "that is what happens when gypsies steal babies". Of course Italy, like many countries in Europe, is concerned about immigration, crime and so on, but it is also clear that treating the Roma as second class citizens is not an answer. Gypsies suffered greatly in the Holocaust and I have been surprised there is not more out-cry towards the actions of the Italian Government. A lack of action can only give comfort to those with far right sympathies and give more confidence for them to undertake more extreme actions. As history shows, if people and nations remain silent bystanders then fascism can take root and I think that a hard stand is required.

Please sign this petition which will be sent to a summit on the future of the Roma at the European Parliament on 16th September. Please sign and spread word to everyone you know about it: www.gopetition.com/online/21275.html

See earlier blogs for my opposition to ID cards and fingerprinting in this country by using the search engine. Meanwhile on a much less serious note did you know my great-grandparents on my mothers side were Italian - that makes me a sixteenth Italian? Caio.

Campaign To Liberate The Song "Jessica"

I get a lot of emails from many different sources - some resulting from this blog, many from council stuff or other local campaigns - averaging over a 100 a day - some days many more - I do try and respond where I can - however while this one below may not be the most important campaign it did make me smile....

Photo: Clarkson pied back in 2005 when receiving a doctorate see more photos here.

Dear Sir The theme tune to the BBC TV Programme Top Gear , "Jessica", was written by Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band) as a tribute to Django Reinhardt. Django was a highly respected jazz guitarist of the "Hot Club of France". He was a disabled Belgian Sinto Gypsy who lived through the Nazi regime unlike many of his compatriots. Traditional gypsy culture is about nature not the air-poisoning gases from cars !! I'm trying to ask various organisations to make a request to Jeremy Clarkson and his "petrol-head" supporters to have some respect and courtesy and give this piece of music back to the spirit of life from which it came and not the excesses of self-importance and selfishness that his programme represents. Can you mention it to your group ?

I have no love for Clarkson but I have no time to be campaigning on this one! Certainly Clarkson's rants have done harm to many campaigns but the use of this song is perhaps amongst the least of his 'crimes' - however good luck to them reclaiming it! And perhaps in the process it will highlight the absurdity of using this music for this programme - so full of life in contrast to the message Clarkson is really selling. Mind I did love the story earlier this year when he had to eat his words over ID cards (see here).

I do have a disregard for the environment. I think the world can look after itself and we should enjoy it as best as we can."
Jeremy Clarkson

Clarkson, a lover of the SUV, sprung to mind when I read another of my emails received this weekend - a link to Saturday's The Guardian article on SUVs and the Hummer - read it here - now I'm not sure of the truth in this - indeed I am not sure how helpful any of this is...but well...here is a brief quote from the article...

Critics of the SUV tend to assume that those who drive them would be constitutionally incapable of such selflessness, which would be an annoyingly smug point of view if it weren't for the fact that market research conducted for the automakers themselves backs it up....The average SUV owner, according to studies cited in Bradsher's book, is "apt to be self-centred and self-absorbed, with little interest in their neighbours or communities."In addition, they are "insecure and vain. They are frequently nervous about their marriages and uncomfortable about parenthood. They often lack confidence in their driving skills ... they tend to like fine restaurants a lot more than off-road driving, seldom go to church, and have limited interest in doing volunteer work to help others....In the case of the Hummer, the researchers reached another telling conclusion. Hummers, the GM researchers found, "tended to appeal to people who never performed military service, but wished they had."

Interrogation centre opens in Cheltenham

See Henry Porter on the state of our civil liberties:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/mar/09/constitution

Picture: Interrogation centres set up around UK

Under the National Identity Register, it seems that 49 pieces of information will still be required by the state and that every important transaction in the citizen's life recorded. And there is a new proposal to collect 19 pieces of information, including mobile phone and credit-card numbers from people travelling abroad, which the government plans to use for 'general public policy purposes' - that is, the mass surveillance of a free people.

'It is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could some day facilitate a police state.'
Bruce Schneier, American cryptographer and computer expert

As Henry Porter points out the shocking part of the move by our Government to massively intrude into our private lives is that it has occurred with almost no coherent analysis, scrutiny or opposition in Parliament, no debate about the direction of our society and only a little understanding and exposition in the media. Shame on Labour and shame on David Drew for supporting the moves.

Anyhow the Cheltenham interrogation centre is now open - one of 50 open by the beginning of this year. From now onwards when people as young as 16 apply for their first adult passport, they will have to attend their nearest interrogation centre. There they will be subject to background checks, questioning to test their story against official records, photographs, and, before long, fingerprinting. Registration on the national ID database(s) - the 'National Identity Register' or NIR - will follow.

You might still be able to avoid it by applying now for your passport as it seems there is a delay in setting up the interviews - see more at:
http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php#cheltenham

Eco-Warrior? Moi?

'Stroud Life' the new paper from The Citizen stable (see last two blog entries) features Green Mayor Cllr John Marjoram as an Eco-Warrior alongside wind entrepreneur Dale Vince and myself. Read my entry below and John Marjorams here.

Photo: Who is that guy?

I have to say I'm not so convinced I am worthy of the title - Green activist and campaigner maybe, but I do not have the glorious history or tales to tell about swimming with whalers or climbing coal-fired power stations. Certainly direct action is wholly legitimate in certain situations - read more below - and I have been a part of that but eco-warrior conjures up more glamorous activities. Although talking exotic I do remember once distributing Kanak independence leaflets over a weekend in the 1980s in New Caledonia - a Pacific island that remains a French colony today.

The French police took a very, very dim view of such activities - such literature I was informed was banned and I was inciting violence - far from it - I was advocating non-violence - sadly the issue remains one that virtually no one in this country is aware of....anyhow enough of this perhaps more of that in a blog another day...

Philip Booth, 47, has been a community activist and campaigner since his teens. His recognition of the need for urgent social and environmental change led to him being elected in May 2006 as the Green Party District Councillor for Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill.

Philip moved to the Stroud area from Bristol in 1993, brought by the countryside, the creative energy and work. Then, he was managing services for adults with learning disabilities, but Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME meant he was himself disabled for a number of very difficult years. As health slowly returned the pen was the main tool of action. Seven years ago he became the Green Party's Press Officer, and still makes daily updates to the Green Party's website as well as keeping his own blog, Ruscombe Green (2000 visitors a month). He also works part time as a Community Mental Health worker.

Philip passionately believes that social justice is central to environmental justice and much of his work is based upon the green principle of acting locally while thinking globally. His enthusiastic involvement in a wide range of local activities includes a vigorous campaign to stop the expansion of Gloucestershire Airport, promoting energy efficiency and renewables, improving the water quality of our brooks and fighting the introduction of ID cards.

Philip has supported many non-violent direct actions and sees them as a legitimate form of political activity when traditional forms are blocked. Citing the example of airport demonstrations, he points out that scientists are virtually unanimous in saying we need immediate action on climate change, yet the Government still plans massive airport expansions.

Philip thinks that many eco-warriors and 'greens' could do more to focus on the positives of a greener life. He says we're sometimes seen as concentrating on negative campaigns such as being anti-nuclear, when in reality we are about creating a greener, more just and more enjoyable world. He is convinced that stronger communities, secure energy supplies, warmer homes, healthier food, and clean, safe, reliable public transport are all possible.

He sees eco-warriors as coming in many different forms and guises. He says the clock is ticking on climate change and whether eco-warriors are championing local food and insulating their homes, or demonstrating in trees, they are needed more than ever for a better world.

Philip's blog has been listed amongst the top Green blogs and linked to sites like the New Statesman, and is found at: http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com

(you are already at the blog if you are reading this!).

Jeremy Clarkson, ID cards and identity fraud

Labour do seem to have gone cooler on their plans for new ID cards - I hope they drop them completely - see previous blogs - but I am not so sure they will see sense - indeed from 2009 foreign nationals - that includes my Norwegian partner, who has lived here for 21 years, her grownup daughters and grand daughter who have all lived here - will it seems be forced to carry the cards from 2009 together with those that 'volunteer' to join the scheme. This huge bureaucracy for what?? There is no evidence it helps with terrorism or fraud......

SchNEWS carried a piece about this in their last issue - I've used some of it for this blog - basically the country is just a little short of dosh at the moment, having spent the entire NHS budget propping up Northern Rock. Add to that the more than minor embarrassment that government departments seem to lose hundreds of laptops a year full of personal details about all of us. If you've got a child then the chances are your bank account details were lost by Revenue and Customs - while the same government department lost details of 300 'high value' tax-free savings accounts. And now the Ministry of Defence, which loses 600 laptops a year, has misplaced the details of 600,000 people who have applied to join the armed forces.

Jeremy Clarkson recently published his bank details in his newspaper column, rubbishing the idea of identity fraud. He was soon amusingly proved wrong as one cheeky wag set up a direct debit for £500 per month from his account to a diabetes charity. Clarkson was forced to publicly admit he was completely wrong - eating humble pie this time as opposed to custard, as he did when a protester gave him one in the face at Oxford university a couple of years ago).

Anyhow despite the fact that the Passport Agency, Home Office, NHS have all attempted huge IT projects that have ended in fiasco I am not convinced the GOvernment will drop ID cards (See more re Governments record in my press release from 2005 ). I would strongly urge folk to read more and sign up for regular news from NO2ID at www.no2id.net

Campaign continues against ID cards

Back in 2005 I signed a pledge, "I will refuse to register for an ID card and will donate £10 to a legal defence fund but only if 10,000 other people will also make this same pledge".

Photo: Passport renewal early as protest against ID cards - see 30th Aug 2006 blog

In fact 11360 other people also did. Various high-profile figures have also begun to sign up, by committing themselves to non-compliance too - joining top Greens are top Lib Dems and more.

The Identity Cards Act 2006 is now law, and - despite growing opposition, significant delays and rising costs - the new Prime Minister shows no sign of calling a halt to the National Identity Scheme. In 2008, the government intends to pilot fingerprinting and to issue the first 'biometric residence visas' to non-EU foreign nationals as a precursor to registering British Citizens. The legal powers to do these all these things will shortly begin to be applied.

Now is the time the legal defence fund part of the pledge is being called in. I'll be sending my cheque off today but other donations, by cheque made payable to 'NO2ID' are also very welcomed. Send with contact details to:

NO2ID (Legal Defence Fund)
Box 412
19-21 Crawford Street
London W1H 1PJ

Regular readers of this blog will remember earlier campaigns on this issue of ID cards like early renewal of passports (see link below).

Free bus passes

I am also concerned at the impacts of free bus passes...when David Blunkett first floated the idea of ID cards back in 2003, he did so under cover of the name 'entitlement cards'. People saw through the spin and the government was forced to call them what they really are.

Four years on, we're seeing a re-emergence of the 'entitlement' concept as the Department for Transport expands its "National Concessionary Travel Scheme". Already running in Scotland and parts of Wales, this RFID smartcard-based scheme has several characteristics that are of concern:

• the unique numbering of older and disabled people, and some children
• significantly expanded collection and collation of personal information
• a clear intention to share data across local and central government

When applying for one of these new 'bus passes', one has not only to submit to having your personal details shared for as-yet-undefined purposes but also to having every one of your journeys logged. And yet again the focus is on the card not the database behind it - or the amount of information that will be stored and shared, or who will have access.

Of course, a local authority-issued entitlement card could in time be made a 'designated document' - which means compulsory entry onto the national ID database. Free and reduced-fare travel not be used as a Trojan Horse for central government data-sharing and ID agendas. There's no need for a local authority to withdraw entirely from the scheme, but it should 'contractually' commit to using the cards for the single purpose of concessionary travel. A government-issued database-linked smartcard of undefined purpose, tracking you and providing personal information to agencies and persons unknown is an ID card in all but name.

Don't tell anyone about Data Protection Day

Monday was Europe’s first-ever Data Protection Day. Twenty-six countries took taking part but can you guess which one didn't?

Photo: me renewing passport early to avoid registration

The UK government - and perhaps not surprising as they are trying hard to destroy privacy through 'Data Sharing'. The Council of Europe describe the day as: "to give European citizens the chance to understand what personal data is collected and processed about them and why, and what their rights are with respect to this processing."

NO2ID have declared 26th March 2007 as 'ID-Day'. The head of the UK Passport & Identity Service (UKIPS) has now confirmed on national radio that ID interrogation centres will be opening their doors for business around this time. The majority of those to be called in for interrogation in the first year will be 16-24 year olds, as UKIPS is initially targeting those applying for their first adult passport.

Therefore every young person that needs to apply for their first adult passport should do so AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to avoid a complex, intrusive interview leading to possible later entry on the National Identity Register - as well as the added expense and delay of having to travel to an interrogation centre.

Photo left: Private Eye from last year

Government documents show that it expects fully 1 in 4 young people to fail to get a passport in time to make their trip because of extended delays in the new system, and it is already paying for adverts to try to fool/convince people that there is some 'benefit' for them in all this. There isn't.

See my blog on 30th August for more info - click labels below. Use NO2ID's petition:
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/NO2IDpetition.pdf

Local Green party press report

I'm in the process of drafting a Press Officer's written report for the Green party AGM next Wednesday - see here for more details of the AGM as the first half with speaker is open to anyone. The draft still needs some work - but maybe of some interest to Blog readers.

Photo: near Haresfield Beacon last week

As I've noted before, while Greens do get much more coverage than ever before, it is still noticeable how much more work is needed - local papers repeatedly carry full page spreads about Staverton airport without a mention of climate change plus pages of car articles - yes I know we aren't going to change that overnight - I understand even the Environment Editor of The Independent said we can't do climate change otherwise all those car and holiday adverts that fund the paper would go elsewhere - infact The Independent is probably best of the national papers at tackling the issue....and that sadly is still inadequate.

I've talked before re media and how it works or doesn't - the pressures on it etc - yesterday I read a useful article by David Edwards entitled "Dangerous Minds".

It is worth a read if you have the energy - it also has some particularly useful insights into our education system. Anyhow here's that draft summary of my role over the last year as Press Officer for the local Green party:

1. Gloucestershire Green party website and Blogs

This last year has seen nearly 500 news releases and letters sent to local press: 470 of these can be viewed on our website. The website is updated most days and the site has also seen regular redesigns by Dave Cockcroft like the edition of a new section about the Coffee House Discussions and 3 local Blogs. The Blogs include my own with nearly 300 posts since May 2006 mainly about my work as a councillor and the Green party's Economic Spokesperson Stroud-based, Molly Scott-Cato - a fascinating look at the world of Green economics.

2. Media

2.1. Newspapers - Around 70% of the news releases get picked up in at least one of the 6 local newspapers. We've maintained a steady presence in all the papers: averaging at least a couple of mentions in SNJ each week, three in The Citizen and one in the Western Daily Press. A Green party member has made front page quotes in around 20 papers this year and we've written a 'Comment' piece for The Citizen on 5 occasions.

Journalists are also phoning more often for comments on particular issues: still only traditional 'green' issues like nuclear power and recycling but it is very positive that we are starting to be seen more as having important contributions to the arguments. Indeed we are also getting criticised by other political parties - great stuff as Mahatma Ghandi said:

“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.”

2.2. Broadcast media - In terms of TV Stroud Greens got the BBC's Politics Show interested in covering the Environment Green paper. Martin Whiteside was able to comment on the show and Principal Speaker Keith Taylor was interviewed about the Severn Barrage. Greens were also central in providing the evidence to get Countryfile to do their whole programme on the area - asking 'Is Stroud the greenest in the West?' Martin Whiteside spent some 3 hours showing them around and being interviewed. Green party members, particularly Martin, have also been interviewed for nearly 20 broadcasts by local radio for various items through the year. It is great we are being able to use the broadcast media more, but it could still be better!

2.3. Campaigns - We've been involved in many campaigns including hiring a coach to London's Climate Change march, Gloucester's first ever Gay pride march where we were the only political party, keeping Gloucester's Mail centre open, helping organise the 3000-strong march against Stroud health cuts and repeated protest at the privatisation of the NHS, renewing passports early to protest at ID cards, lobbying to stop Bristol airport's expansion and the Gloucester Docks demo against the cuts to inland waterways. Some Greens even purshased a virtual title, mine was 'Baron Booth of Bread Street' to highlight the deeply disturbing fact that 17 out of the 22 individuals who have donated more than £100,000 to the Labour Party in the past few years have received an honour.

2.4. Reports and submissions - Government at all levels has gone crazy on consultations. I question sometimes how useful it is to spend time on these but unless we put forward our views it is much harder to argue our case. We have participated in 15 major consultations or submissions and particular thanks for help must go to Rosie Reed, Dave Cockcroft, Martin Whiteside and Jan Bayley.

The biggest of these has been the Council's Environment Green paper: a team of some 10 members have been enormously helpful in pulling together ideas and pushing this forward. Another huge project was responding to the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (possibly the most important planning document in the SW) which if implemented will lead to an increase in CO2 emissions. We are sadly very lone voices on this issue but managed to persuade Stroud District Council to also raise this issue in their submission. These projects are on-going.

We have also done a handful of submissions regarding nuclear power: our main submission to CoRWM by Jan Bayley has been acclaimed as one of the best by those outside the nuclear industry. We have also submitted reports to the consultation on GM co-existence, the DTI's Energy Review, the County's waste strategy and regarding the proposed expansion of Bristol airport.

While our submissions may have not always have produced the results we want, they have provided an opportunity to get the views in the media and I am also convinced they are helping change the way many view the world. For example we have seen local Tories for the first time question airport expansions publicly and others visibly uncomfortable around issues they would have dismissed in the past as 'green propaganda'.

2.5. Other issues - The vast majority of our news items are Stroud-based but we are continuing to cover the whole of Gloucestershire. Looking back over the issues we've covered shows a huge range of topics, but clearly number one has been climate change. Indeed rarely a few days goes by without trying to raise the issue again in some new way which includes highlighting what needs to be done. It is vital that we can empower people to act and help us make the changes that are needed in Government and locally.

Many of our news items are in response to items in the press while others are issues we want to get covered more. Other local issues have included the canal, the Environment Green paper, Aston Down, nuclear waste trains, Bisley composting, health cuts, the Severn Barrage, mobile phones at school and much more. We've also managed a huge range of wider issues like anger at David Drews failure to support an inquiry into Iraq, updates on the 'Fairford Five', Trident, nuclear waste, sex-trafficking, Lebanon, Seal products, dairy farming etc. Infact I urge anyone interested to use the search engine on our website to find what you want. Are we missing any key areas? Could you help around any topic area?

3. Web-based news

This is an area we've not made the most of - only a few of our news releases have also been posted on other websites and to other groups. Some of those sites, like Indymedia are strict about the content not being party political. We need to explore this area more and advertise our own website better. Another area we've only just touched on is the numerous web Discussion Groups - there are a few large ones based in Gloucestershire. I have made very small steps into this area but we need to develop our presence more on these sites.

4. GNN: Green News Network

I continue to produce a monthly summary of our news releases and letters. Anyone can sign up easily to GNN on our website: www.glosgreenparty.org.uk

5. Summary

We continue to build a solid media presence here in Gloucestershire in the newspapers but there is still room for much improvement and we still need to do more on the broadcast media. Martin and Kevin are to be particularly thanked for their help in this area. We will also need support of more members if we are to sustain and develop our media and campaigning work: whether it be responding to a letter in the papers, phoning a local radio or helping research a campaign we would love to hear from you.

I would like to finish this report with a huge thank you to the many, many members and supporters who have helped me through the year - it is, as always an exciting, challenging, frustrating, inspiring journey. Green politics is having a significant impact locally and nationally - bigger than ever before. We must build on this rapidly, time is running out, it is vital we get more Greens elected in May.

U-turn on National Identity Register welcomed but battle not won

This photo is of my sister-in-law and partners' granddaughter playing Hide-and-Seek in Standish woods this weekend - and what a glorious weekend. Possibly a tenuous link to this topic - but often one of the arguments for ID cards is if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear....

What nonsense - we will be hearing next that spy cameras should be in every room in our homes linked back to the nearest police station - after all alot of crime goes on behind closed doors like child abuse, drug dealing and more. And while we are about it lets have all our mail openned and checked...

The need for privacy has nothing to do with implying we have something to hide or fear - to invade privacy someone should have a really good reason like you were strongly suspected of committing a criminal act. Only out-of-control dictatorial regimes monitor and control citizens all the time just in case a tiny minority get up to mischief. Infact it is more likely innocents who have more to fear as it is terrorists and criminals who are able to find ways around these cards.

Anyhow news that the Government is taking a U-turn on the National Identity Register (NIR) is most welcomed. This would have been the system that recorded everyone’s biometric details in one place - the plan is now to host the information across three existing IT systems. Read the BBC report here: ‘Rethink on ID card computer plan‘.

Whilst this is not yet a halt to the ID cards scheme - the launch for ID cards is still planned to begin in 2009 - the decision to bin the National Identity Register is definitely a start in chipping away a future ‘database state’. The whole project has been ill-conceived from the start and is a huge waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere. Read more about it here, here - and herere last Green party action against ID cards locally. Plus the excellent website with lots of quotes from a Phil Booth who is not me and is no relation but does say lots of wise things - read more about the nonsense arguments that try to justify spendfing vast sums of our money on ID cards at: no2id.net

Fingerprint scanning scheme for pubs

Pubs and clubs around the country are introducing fingerprint scanning systems for drinkers. The scheme which is backed by the Home Office was first trialled in Yeovil but plans are afoot to expand the system to Coventry, Hull, Sheffield, Leeds, Gwent, Nottingham, Taunton and possibly Swindon. If they are successful there are plans to spread it across the country.

Drinkers must have their thumbprints scanned and supply their name, address and date of birth to enrol onto the system before they are allowed to enter licensed premises taking part in the scheme.

I can't see local pubs like the Carpenters, Vine Tree or Star introducing such measures, but I am concerned by the increasing number of authoritarian measures are being introduced by UK pubs and clubs following new licensing laws which were introduced in November 2005. Licensees are now subject to increased fines and possible criminal prosecution with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment for knowingly serving someone who is under-age. As a result many pubs have responded with extreme measures that threaten the freedoms of 'everyone', not just those who happen to look under 18, such as fingerprinting and ID-ing all customers as if they were all potential troublemakers.

Many readers of this Blog will know that I am wholly opposed to the introduction of the new ID cards - they are an extraodinary waste of money and unnecessary and damaging to our freedoms. Greens have campaigned locally on this, held public meetings and joined the national NO2ID card campaign. I have to say I was bitterly disappointed our local MP supported ID cards despite reservations he shared publicly.

If you are in any of the towns affected by this fingerprinting, especially Yeovil, and are willing to do something then send an e-mail to phil@no2id.net (please put "pub fingerprinting" in the Subject). And if anyone knows a pub that would like to take NO2ID beer mats, Newcastle NO2ID has created some with the logo on the front and key counter-arguments on the back, ideal for starting the discussions of the scheme that we need. Beermats are produced in huge quantities, so they need more than a handful to make up an order(if we can make up a total order of several thousand we can produce beermats for £15 per 100). Enquiries to newcastle@no2id.net

Resist compulsory registration

I am totally opposed to the Government's wasteful ID card scheme - hence this week will be publicising the national campaign to renew passports now to avoid being forced to register on the national ID scheme database.

The Government scheme for our passports and ID cards will mean lifelong surveillance, billions of pounds wasted and untold bureaucracy. Gordon Brown now plans to include surveillance of everyday life by allowing high-street businesses to share confidential information with police databases - this will be the most complex and intrusive compulsory ID control system in the world. The Government potentially will have a complete record of all our movements, from how much and when you withdraw from your bank account to what medications you are taking, down to the level of what sort of bread you eat.

You can opt out of an ID card if you renew your passport before 1st January 2010. But the card is not the point - even if you chose not to have it, you would still have to pay for it. I renewed my passport three years early as I am appalled by the fact that in future we will have to attend an official interview, producing numerous personal documents to be recorded, and having fingerprints and eye scans taken for the records.

The UK Passport and Identity Service have announced that the price of a basic adult passport will be raised to £66 from 5th October 2006.

Greens have opposed this ID card plan from the start and I helped organise a public meeting last year to discuss the issue - David Drew sadly voted for them, but there is growing widespread opposition - all the other key political parties are now opposed to the project, a former head of MI5 has branded the cards ‘useless’ and even Whitehall officials have expressed grave concerns.

The cards are to be introduced voluntarily from 2008 but, if re-elected, Labour proposes to make them compulsory for everyone over 16. Once you are on the Register you will face penalty charges for not telling the Home Office if you move house or if any other of your registered details change. The government is looking at issuing cut-down 'early variant' ID cards that would 'protect' our identity with nothing more than a four-digit PIN.

This is a gift to fraudsters - and given the Home Offices' atrocious track record, it seems clear that things will go badly wrong.

As Baroness Seccombe put it during and ID card debate in the House of Lords last year: 'How many people know that when their passport runs out they will be summoned to an interrogation centre before being allowed to buy a few cans of beer in Calais?'

See more at: http://www.renewforfreedom.org/