NO2ID News No. 40

2 March 2006

NO2ID Supporters' Newsletter No 40 - 2nd March 2006

Urgent Action : Lobby Lords before Monday's debate

The Identity Cards Bill returns to the House of Lords on Monday (6th March) following MP's rejection of key Lords' amendments. Reports indicate that peers will once again introduce amendments to the bill removing compulsion by the back door (compulsory registration via passport renewal). Supporters should write to peers encouraging them to vote for the removal of compulsion in line with the government's manifesto commitment of introducing voluntary ID cards.

A special tool has been created by one of our supporters to assist in identifying the best peer for you to write to and how to construct your letter or email. The tool is online at (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ajwatson/no2id-peers/). There is also some guidelines on writing to peers at the end of this newsletter in the 'What you can do' section.

Peers' responses can be viewed on the NO2ID forum at http://www.no2id.net/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=31

What's next?

Show your opposition - NO2ID badges and posters

We have plenty of A3 & A2 posters with the NO2ID logo and space for your own message. We also have 38mm button badges
enamelled lapel badges suitable for smart wear and "NO2ID - stop ID cards and the database state" window stickers. Send your requests for these to the office: NO2ID, Box 412, 78 Marylebone High Street, LONDON W1U 5AP (preferably accompanied by a donation towards costs) and don't forget to give us a return address.

4th March - Cambridge NO2ID Street Stall

On Saturday 4th March 2006, 10am to 2pm, Cambridge NO2ID will be running one of its intermittent street stalls outside the Cambridge Guildhall (at the corner of Guildhall St and Petty Curry). Offers of help to run the stall welcome, or just drop by to say "Hello". We'll be distributing literature and collecting more supporters. Contact Andrew Watson (07710 469624).

6th March - House of Lords, ID Bill — Consideration of Commons Amendments

On Monday 6th March the ID cards bill returns once again to the House of Lords. Webcasts of the proceedings can be viewed at www.parliamentlive.tv and transcripts are available from www.parliament.uk/hansard/hansard2.cfm

11th March - 'Turning the tables on the state' conference (£5/£3 concessions)

On Saturday 11th March 2006 11.00-4.30pm (registration & coffee from 10.30am) at Diorama Arts Centre D2, Regents Place, London NW1, behind Euston Tower (Warren Street/Euston Tube stations). A conference about achieving human & social rights in the 21st century. Speakers include Bill Bowring - Professor of Human Rights & International Law, London Metropolitan University, Guy Herbert - NO2ID General Secretary, Glenn Rikowski - School of Education, Northampton University. Register at http://www.aworldtowin.net/rightsconference.html

14th March NO2ID Public Planning Meeting

On Tuesday 14th March 2006, 6.30pm at University of London Union, Room 3a, Malet Street WC1 (Nearest tubes: Goodge Street, Warren Street, Russell Sq). After the New Labour whips forced the ID card legislation through by bullying its backbenchers into submission, the fight against ID cards and the database state moves into a new phase. There is a limited chance of defeat, and perhaps amendment before the bill becomes law, but resistance at grassroots level is now the order of the day. NO2ID invites you to an open meeting to discuss how best to carry the campaign forward. The meeting is free to attend but we will be asking for donations to help cover the cost of the room hire.

15th March Smart Cards and E-government Conference - (£233 - £703 to attend one day)

On Wednesday 15th March 2006 both Andy Burnham, Minister in charge of ID cards, and Stephen Harrison, Head of Policy - Identity Cards Programme, will be speaking on Day 2 of the Smart Cards & e-government conference. Location: London Marriott Kensington, 147c Cromwell Road, London SW5 OTH
[N.B. Day 1 is on the 14th March, but no Home Office personnel will be speaking]
More details: http://www.symposium-events.co.uk/pages/attending/LA002/overview.htm

What just happened?

North Wiltshire District Council rejects ID cards

On Tuesday 21st February North Wiltshire District Council passed a motion against ID cards and affiliating to NO2ID. The motion rejected the use of government ID cards for access to local services. The government's ID scheme could require local councils to re-engineer systems and processes to interface with the National Identity register. No costs will be underwritten by central government leaving a potentially huge shortfall to be met by local taxes. Swindon NO2ID supporters gathered outside the meeting to protest against ID cards. More details at (www.no2idswindon.org.uk).

Two polls show government wrong

Two new polls show that the government is wrong when it claims over 70% support for ID cards. A YouGov poll published in the Telegraph showed 53% in favour, whilst an ICM poll for NO2ID showed 52% support. NO2ID National Co-ordinator Phil Booth said: "ICM's poll indicates that over eight and a half million people now think that ID cards are a very bad idea. Hardcore opposition has tripled since the Bill was introduced. If Tony Blair really thinks he's won the argument, then he's losing the plot."
See http://www.yougov.com/archives/pdf/TEL060101004_3.pdf and http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/reviews/2006/No2ID%20-%20Feb/ICM%20%20%20No2ID%20Poll.asp

Channel 4 Dispatches looks at ID cards

On Monday (27th February) Channel 4's Dispatches programme looked at how the recent avalanche of security legislation has affected the civil liberties of ordinary people in Britain. The programme included a short segment on identity cards which it described as "the greatest threat to our freedom yet proposed". Lord Falconer when asked why the government is introducing so many authoritarian measures responded with classic doublespeak when he said: "Above all this government is extremely keen to ensure that people's basic fundamental human rights are protected". The Joint Committee on Human Rights raised 14 points of concern with regards to the ID cards bill and human rights. Stealing Freedom will be repeated on More4 Saturday 04 March, 8:10pm - 9:10pm, More4+1 Saturday 04 March, 9:10pm - 10:10pm and Channel 4 Sunday 05 March 4:30am - 5:25am.

Smartcard alliance top tips

The US based Smart Card Alliance have released a white paper 'The Top 10 Hot Identity Topics'. Hot topics include 'The problems with breeder documents' and 'What's in a credential'. The section on privacy outlines ID systems that dispense with centralised databases, so don't expect the UK government to join the alliance. The paper includes a hand glossary which reveals that 'Identity is information concerning the person, not the actual person'. Glad we cleared that one up. See http://www.smartcardalliance.org/alliance_activities/top_10_identity.cfm

Songs against ID cards

Leeds based singer songwriter John Parkes’ debut acoustic album ‘Faithlessnessless’ includes a song against authoritarian measures such as ID cards. The track ‘To go round’ can be downloaded for free from Parkes’ website www.johnparkes.com . Parkes signed the NO2ID pledge refusing to register for an ID card. The Pet Shop Boys have also devoted a song ('Integral') to the issue on their new album 'Fundamental'.

ID numbers for Scottish children

Scottish children are to be given identity numbers according to an article published in the Evening Times.
http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/?p=369

More news is available from the NO2ID newsblog at http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/

"ID" in the news

Peers 'to fight on' over ID cards

Conservatives and Lib Dems in the House of Lords say they will continue to oppose identity card plans despite MPs rejecting their earlier objections. Ministers say anyone getting a passport should have to get an ID card and be registered on a database. Opposition peers say people should have a choice.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4758696.stm

ID checks to go online

Government departments and local authorities are working on plans to use biometric ID to check the identities of people accessing local government services online. A cross-government committee has begun developing a technology roadmap that will allow local authorities to build ID card checks into their websites.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2006/02/21/214300/IDcheckstogoonline.htm

Chip in tooth - scientists point way to new identity tag

It is the ID card you will never lose or forget to carry with you - unless your teeth fall out. Scientists have implanted an ID chip into a tooth to show how detailed personal information can be stored.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1719668,00.html

The Herald Letters : Identity cards will not stop theft of personal data via the web

A security report from BT, with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police, Yahoo and the government's "Get Safe Online" campaign, confirms that theft of personal data is most likely to occur via the internet, rather than by criminals rifling our dustbins.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/57052.html

Whitehall gauges firms’ ID plans

The UK government is seeing widespread interest from firms mulling the use of national identity (ID) cards, the civil servant in charge of the controversial scheme revealed at a European ID cards event last week. She hinted that while banks will not legally be able to use the cards as their only accepted form of authentication, they could offer incentives to customers to use them, through quicker processing of applications or other means.
http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/2151005/whitehall-gauges-firms-id-plans

Government slammed for ID database 'shambles'

The government said on Tuesday that it had no fixed plans for the form and structure of the database that will underpin its proposed ID card scheme, sparking more criticism from experts and critics of the plan.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39252530,00.htm

Government continues to stonewall over ID card costs

The two government departments that are likely to be the biggest users of ID cards have completed an assessment of the costs of integrating the technology into their IT systems — but are refusing to release the figures on grounds of commercial sensitivity.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/legal/0,39020651,39253436,00.htm

Ireland : National ID card plans shelved

The government no longer believes that identity cards will be needed as a response to their introduction in Britain. The British government has told Irish officials that the imminent introduction of ID cards in Britain will not affect Irish citizens moving between the two countries.
http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/02/19/story11984.asp

USA: BioBouncer Might Make Bars Safer

A new security system for nightclubs uses facial recognition technology to identify troublemakers - and share their faces with other clubs in a security network.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70265-0.html?tw=rss.index

USA: Big Brother can't wait to ID us all

The governments of Britain and the United States, knee-jerking to pandered fears of terrorism, apparently can't wait to have every man, woman and child carrying what essentially is a crowd-control device writ large.
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/viewpoints/editorial/ci_3554871

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )

What you can do

As the ID card bill moves back to the Lords once again you can help us by:

1. Lobbying a Lord

Ideally you should write to any Lords with whom you may have a connection. A list of Lords with e-mail addresses can be found at http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/lobby.htm#email. Lords can also be written to by post at the House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW. All male peers (except Dukes and Archbishops) should be addressed as "My Lord", all female peers simply as "Dear Lady [surname]". Dukes and Archbishops should be addressed as "Your Grace".
Lords Lobbying Tips: http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/v1/pdf/3913.pdf
How to address Lords: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/address.cfm

2. Writing to your local paper

Personal letters to your local press can be an effective way of getting the facts about ID cards to a wider audience. The topic will be back on the news agenda as the bill moves between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

3. Joining NO2ID or making a donation

Please join NO2ID, if you are not already a paid-up member.(There's a membership form at http://www.no2id.net/downloads/membForm.pdf) OR Donate some money towards campaign expenses.

We also maintain a list of things you can do on our website at http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/other.php

Publication details: © NO2ID 2005 - This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.

NO2ID, Box No.412, 78 Marylebone High Street, LONDON W1U 5AP

Publication details: © NO2ID 2010 - This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.
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