NO2ID News No. 56
12 October 2006
NO2ID Supporters' Newsletter No. 56 - 12th October 2006
Contacting us: Call or email the office - 020-7793-4005 or
(office@no2id.net).
GOVERNMENT RELEASES ID CARDS COST REPORT
On Monday (9th October) the government released its first report of
"the likely costs of the ID cards scheme". A similar report will be
presented to parliament once every six months - a gesture to appease Labour back-bench rebels who had the power to stop the Identity Cards Bill
earlier this year. The costings look
remarkably similar to all the previous costings that have been touted
over the last couple of years. For instance, the report states that
once the entire population has been scanned and stored in the National
Identity Register the scheme "could deliver between £1 billion to £1.7
billion a year in economic benefits to the UK economy". This seems to
be based on the government's tired and discredited figures for identity
fraud, which it has been trying to make stick through dint of
frequent repetition. As well as costings the document lays out the government's
grand vision for the abolition of privacy (AKA 'data sharing' and
'transformational government'), whereby our personal information will be pooled by
government departments as a matter of course. Currently a legal justification is required. You can read the full report at
(www.identitycards.gov.uk/downloads/costreport37.pdf).
The London
School of Economics has responded to the report at
http://is2.lse.ac.uk/idcard/s37InitialResponse.htm
NO2ID COMEDY GIG A GREAT SUCCESS
On October 1st Hackney Empire hosted NO2ID's comedy fundraising gig.
Around 600 people turned out to support the cause and see a top night
of comedy. Compere Daniel Kitson quipped that it was good to have a
truly evil government project to get your teeth into: "a real bond
villain stroking the cat kind of an affair". Headline act Dara O'Brien
described his frustration with Ryanair demanding photo-identification
for internal flights: "I found an old
work card that I had and I handed it to your man there and the guy
genuinely looks at it and says: 'I'm afraid this is out of date.' So I
looked at your man and said: 'Well I'm still him.'". The night also
featured poetry from Paul Hamilton (aka Kevin Eldon) and music from
Gary LeStrange. We raised over £1000 for the NO2ID campaign,
and distributed literature to the audience many of whom registered as supporters.
Many thanks to all those who came to show their support.
What's next?
Local groups
We have a new local group in Scarborough, one of the locations of the
69 passport interrogation centres due to open next year. Contact
scarborough@no2id.netwww.no2id.net/localGroups
for more information. We still need many more
local groups particularly in the locations of the interrogation centres
(we now have groups in 28 out of 69 locations). A full list of local
groups can be found at
1st Tuesday of the month - Hackney NO2ID monthly meetings
The Hackney local group covering London E8, E5, E9 & N16 areas meet
on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 in Caf? Bohemia by Hackney
Central Station. New support very welcome to help raise awareness over
the coming months.
NO2ID Cambridge Campaign stall
Cambridge NO2ID will be running Saturday street stalls outside
Cambridge Guildhall from 10am onwards on 14th October, and every third
Saturday into the new year. Location: (http://tinyurl.com/eo42r).
Volunteers to help very welcome - contact Andrew Watson via
cambridge@no2id.net,
or on 07710 469624.
Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh Campaign stall
After a short break during the Edinburgh Festival NO2ID Edinburgh has
resumed its regular Princes Street campaigning stall on Saturdays. We
shall be at our usual location at the east end of Princes Street,
opposite the Balmoral Hotel, from 1pm - 3pm this coming Saturday. We
use our stall to raise public awareness of the Identity Cards scheme,
collect donations and entries for the NO2ID petition, and also to
increase membership of our group. Please do pop by for a chat if you
happen to be around. We shall be aiming to have the stall up and
running most Saturdays, and new volunteers are always very welcome. You
can see photos of our stall and contact details at:
www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/.
17th October - NO2ID Glasgow Meeting
Tuesday, 17th October at 7:30pm in Mono. Alternative arrangements: If
for any reason Mono is not suitable then we will instead go to Laurie's
across the road. All are welcome! Map:
http://www.no2id-scotland.net/glasgow/meeting.html
17th October - Conservative Way Forward meeting - "ID Cards and the
Erosion of Civil Liberties" (£10 admission)
Tuesday, 17 October, at Wallacespace, 2 Dryden Street, London WC2E
9NA(just off Drury Lane), drinks at 6.15 pm ahead of a 6.45 pm start.
£5 charge on the door for members (of CWF, not just the Conservative
Party), £10 charge for non CWF members, admission free to bona fide
students (please bring a student identity card with you). Dress code: Business attire. E-mail
gary@conwayfor.org.uk
if you wish to attend. Speakers are: Rt Hon David
Davis MP, Shadow Home Secretary; Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty; and Camilla Cavendish, leader writer and columnist for The Times
18th October Manchester NO2ID Flyering
Wednesday, 18th October, 5:30pm - 6:30pm at Deansgate Station.We?ll be
visiting Deansgate Station to flyer the commuters on their way home.
Further details will be posted on the Manchester NO2ID
Website(http://manchester.no2id.net),
or alternatively join our
mailing list at http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.manchester
25th October - NO2ID Edinburgh meeting - 'I am not a barcode .. I
am a free man!'
Wednesday, 25th October 7.00pm in the Teviot Dining Room, Teviot Row
House, Bristo Square, Edinburgh EH8 9AJ. "I am not a barcode .. I am a
free man!" This was the headline on a lively article in the Edinburgh
Evening News (http://tinyurl.com/f6424) by
Independent MSP Brian
Monteith. He will be expanding on his views to the Edinburgh NO2ID
group, further details are at
http://forum.no2id.net/viewtopic.php?t=13336
27th October - NO2ID Volunteers Meeting Central London - 'ID in
history'
Friday, 27th October at 7.00pm in the Bertrand Russell Room at Conway Hall, 25
Red Lion Square, London WC1 (nearest tube: Holborn). All are welcome to
NO2ID's next regular volunteers' meeting. The meeting will include a speaker on the
theme of ID cards in history. Free, though we will
be asking for donations to help cover room hire.
25th November - Defy-ID National Gathering
Saturday, 25th November, from 11am onwards at The Sumac Centre in
Nottingham. Meeting to discuss opposition to ID Cards and the National
ID Register. This is not so much a public meeting to discuss the
overall implications of the ID scheme, as a planning day of how we are
going to stop it. See http://www.nottingham-defy-id.org.uk/gathering
29th November - NO2ID Public Meeting
Speakers to include Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP. Other speakers and venue to
be confirmed later.
29th November - Channel 4 documentary to look at ID cards
A documentary looking at privacy intrusive technology is to be
broadcast on Channel 4 in November. In the programme, called 'We Know
Where You Live', journalist Henry Porter will explore how a number of
new technologies are being used to support an authoritarian push
against our privacy and civil liberties - including ID cards. The
documentary will air on 20th November at 9pm and 29th November at 10pm
on More 4.
What just happened?
Glasgow NO2ID in Galashiels
Last Saturday saw a contingent of campaigners from Glasgow go for an
away-day in Galashiels. A stall was run for a few hours outside the
Post Office. Dozens of people signed the petition and many more took
literature away or stopped to discuss the issues. We hope to organise a
meeting to raise awareness and form a new local group in the near
future. Anyone interested in attending (or getting more involved!) is
invited to send contact details (e-mail or postal address) to NO2ID
Scotland: e-mail scotland@no2id.net or write to
NO2ID Scotland, 3e
Grovepark Gardens, Glasgow, G20 7JB.
Journalists vote on NO2ID affiliation
The National Union of Journalists has begun balloting its members on
affiliation to NO2ID. The vote was mandated by this year's NUJ Annual
Delegate Meeting, which declared "total opposition" to the ID scheme
and other curbs on civil liberties and warned that "campaigning and
investigative journalists can also expect to be targeted by this
measure in order to monitor and hinder their work". Voting closes on 30
November. The October issue of the NUJ magazine Journalist devotes
almost two pages to the ID question. As well as a photo of "barcoded"
campaigners, a pointer to the NO2ID site and a round-up of pro-ID
arguments from the Home Office, it features an article by Christina
Zaba, strongly urging affiliation to NO2ID. The ID system will make
journalists' job more dangerous, she writes: "Anyone with a grievance
will be able to find out where you live, where your child goes to
school, where you go at night." And journalists themselves "won't be
able to guarantee privacy or anonymity to anyone". Once people know
they are being tracked, "they'll be much more nervous about meeting
us". So "we need to shout together, and do it now. If we don't, pretty
soon we may not have a voice at all."
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council votes against ID
On September 28th Staffordshire Moorlands District Council passed a
motion against ID cards. The vote, which passed by 35 to 2 with 10
abstentions, had cross-party support - the motion was proposed by a
Lib Dem, seconded by a Tory and backed by the independent group on the
council. The motion noted that: "the national database [...]
underpinning the identity card scheme may facilitate criminal fraud,
terrorism and potential state abuses of human rights".
Joanna Lumley slams ID cards during TV appearance
Actress Joanna Lumley launched into a tirade against ID cards on
Graham Norton TV show on Monday night. Lumley said :"Prepare my cell
because I shall not have one. I shall not have an identity card!" An
ever growing number of celebrities are beginning to express strong
feelings against the ID scheme and Lumley's views are shared by the
thousands of supporters that have signed NO2ID's pledge to refuse to
register for the scheme.
Leicester NO2ID group now up and running
Leicester NO2ID had its first meeting on 26th September. They are
working on a number of different avenues to take the group forward.
Group co-ordinator John Cloke said: "Edward Garnier, Tory MP for
Harborough has asked a number of parliamentary questions on ID cards,
takes the Conservative line that they'll abolish the system if they get
into power and has said that he'll try and find out where the
processing centre in Leicester is to be and let us know." The group is
also planning to contact local councillors about an anti ID cards
motion similar to those passed by a growing number of local councils
(see news about Staffordshire Moorlands District Council above). They
also intend to target the closest local marginal constituency,
Leicester South, for leafleting and campaigning, "we want to make it
quite plain to [the incumbent MP] that the party of ID cards is not a
party we want representing citizens anywhere in Leicester and that ID
cards bring with them electoral consequences," John said. The group
believes that the people of Leicester have a special responsibility to
campaign against ID cards - by 2012 Leicester will have joined
Birmingham as only the second city in the UK where ethnic groups make
up a majority of the population. John pointed out that "if ID cards
were to be introduced, it will be the Asian communities that are
impacted by it the most, and we need to make this quite clear to local
citizens." For more information, or to get involved with the Leicester
group contact (leicester@no2id.net).
NO2ID at Cambridge University Societies' Fair
Half a dozen NO2ID volunteers used stall space generously provided by
the Cambridge University Student Greens and Liberal Democrats to
campaign at the Societies' Fair, where Cambridge students go to find
out about the 200+ clubs and societies at the University. We handed out
2000 flyers and leaflets, and collected contact details for 250 new
student supporters. Our aim is to start a CU student NO2ID society. Any
Cambridge students interested in participating should contact
cambridge@no2id.net.
New campaigning website launches
NO2ID has teamed up with a new website that promises to harness the
power of grassroots activists up and down the country. Actions Speak
Louder allows visitors to discover which groups are campaigning for
political change in their local area. Using a postcode search covering
the United Kingdom, users can find which local groups affiliated to
national organisations are operating in their chosen region. See
www.actionsspeaklouder.org.uk
New man at UKIPS and jobs for the boys
On Wednesday James Hall began working as Chief Executive of the UK
Identity and Passport Service(UKIPS). The Home Office unblushingly
says he, "was most recently responsible for Accenture?s £2bn contract
as a Local Systems Provider with the NHS in England." Accenture
recently announced that its is pulling out of the aforementioned
contract and handing the reigns over to Computer Sciences Corporation
by early next year. Accenture?s involvement in the NHS project is
reported to have lost the company £240 million. Meanwhile, according to
their website, Accenture has alliances with 49 companies (see
www.accenture.com/Global/Services/Alliances/default.htm);
of these
companies ten are listed by UKIPS as wanting a slice of the ID card
action (see
http://www.identitycards.gov.uk/downloads/Company_Profiles_Directory.pdf).
Might Mr Hall not experience some conflicts of interest?
ID cards will help tax dodgers - ask Mapeley
Mapeley, the property company entrusted with the job of supplying the
offices for 69 passport interrogation centres in the UK, paid no
corporation tax last year in any of the jurisdictions in which it
operates. Five years ago the government sold Mapeley hundreds of Inland
Revenue buildings which they now lease back from them for an estimated
£2 billion in rent over the next 20 years. Mapeley maximises its
profits by using tax havens, so does not itself pay tax while helping extract it from UK residents.
http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2155728/mapeley-paid-tax
"ID" in the news
Cost of ID card technology pencilled in at £800m - Computing
12/10/06
'The government expects to spend about £800m on the technology for the
national biometric identity card scheme. [Passports minister, Liam] Byrne also reaffirmed the
strategy to use existing government systems where possible. But
industry experts are unconvinced by either the budget or the timetable
for cards to be issued to UK citizens from 2009.'
http://www.vnunet.com/computing/news/2166159/cost-id-card-technology
Councils give ID thieves a helping hand over internet - Yorkshire
Post 11/10/06
'Local authorities in Yorkshire are putting enough personal details on
the internet for people to fall victim to identity theft, a Yorkshire
Post investigation has revealed. As many as seven local authorities in
the Yorkshire region have published copies of planning applications
online ? all including the applicant's signature.'
http://www.ypn.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1814635
UKIPS staff prepare to strike over pay dispute - Personnel Today
9/10/06
'Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for
the Identity and Passport Service are to strike on 13 October in a
dispute over pay.'
http://tinyurl.co.uk/a52e
Byrne sprinkles biometric ID pixie dust over immigration 'issue' -
The Register 9/10/06
'Home Office Minister Liam Byrne was today scheduled to pitch ID cards
as a crucial weapon in the fight against illegal immigrants, according
to the advance spin in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph. The paper,
entirely forgetting about Tony's fortress Britain, claims the switch to
playing the immigration card is a "fresh approach" from John Reid, this
week's Home Secretary.'
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/09/byrne_biometric_visa/
Germany: Electronic ?foreigners? card? planned - europa 9/10/06
'An electronic ?foreigners? card?, similar to the planned eID card for
German citizens, may soon replace residence permits in Germany.
?Through the electronic foreigners? card, we want to create an
identification capability similar to that offered by the electronic ID
card for our citizens,? Secretary of State, August Hanning, announced
in September.'
http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/6186/194
Anger over fingerprint book scheme - Lancashire Evening Post 7/10/06
'Lancashire's headteachers today hit back at claims new fingerprinting
technology which allows pupils borrow library books is a breach of
civil liberties. The scheme has caused controversy after Green Party
County Councillor Chris Coates branded the move a "crazy Big Brother
solution". The system, which is estimated to be used in more than 3,500
schools
across the country, has provoked anger among some councillors and human
rights campaigners.'
http://www.lep.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=73&ArticleID=1810759
UKIPS completes ePassport move - Kablnet 5/10/06
'The Identity and Passport Service (UKIPS) has completed its transition
to the production of ePassports. It reported on 5 October 2006 that it
has replaced the production of traditional passports with those
containing a facial biometric. This means the UK has beaten the US Visa
Waiver deadline for the introduction of ePassports. This means that
British citizens issued with passports after 26 October will not need
visas to travel to the US. The UKIPS also claimed to have passed a
milestone with the issue of over 2.5m ePassports since their
introduction in March.'
http://www.kablenet.com/kd.nsf/Frontpage/AFD81D622672B2D1802571FE003AB093?OpenDocument
Transformation under fire - Kablenet 5/10/06
'Speaking at Society for IT Management's conference in Harrogate,
William Heath, chairman of Kable, said there was a streak of
"hierarchical or authoritarian intent" in the agenda [Transformational
Government]. "The government is using the agenda because it wants to
know everything about everyone," he said. "It is not customer focused.
"The fact the agenda is moving slowly is probably a good thing."'
http://www.kablenet.com/kd.nsf/Frontpage/E1A112A33C0EC3F3802571FE003A5A07?OpenDocument
Sell your personal data and receive tax cuts - Kablenet 4/10/06
'The leader of Bracknell Forest Borough Council has suggested people who
allow their data to be sold to marketing firms could receive council
tax cuts. Paul Bettison told a Conservative party conference fringe
meeting that the information from the council's smartcard system could
be sold if controls on government databases were loosened.'
http://tinyurl.co.uk/52gf
- Please send me any items of interest you encounter -
Editor (newsletter@no2id.net)
Publication details: © NO2ID 2013 - 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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