[no2id-supporters] NO2ID - Special Election Bulletin

[no2id-supporters-admin at no2id.net]

Dear Supporter,

ELECTION TACTICS

It will have been hard to miss the fact that a UK General Election is 
now under way and that a ballot will take place on May 5th.

The Government has admitted that its Identuty Cards Bill will be lost 
when Parliament is dissolved on Monday.  But it has also declared that 
the Bill will be reintroduced "as a priority" in the new Parliament.

Our campaign will therefore be relaunched after the election, and in the 
meantime it is important that we do not let the question of ID control 
be ignored by politicians and public while there are so many other 
issues to be debated.

+ Our election campaign:  raising the issue

NO2ID will continue to campaign on ID cards and the database state in 
the coming four weeks.  We need to carry on informing the public.  But 
we also remain entirely non-partisan.

Candidates and parties can, and should, be encouraged to endorse the 
campaign, even to use the NO2ID logo.  Some are already doing so.  But 
we cannot as a matter of principle offer support to particular parties 
or particular candidates.  (There are many in all parties who agree with 
us, whatever nominal party policy.)  *New election rules mean we cannot 
mount a national campaign against particular candidates or groups of 
candidates on the basis of their views on the Home Office Scheme, either.*

What we can and will do is question candidates on their views, and 
inform and lobby them.  We can also ensure the matter is raised in local 
campaigns by attending hustings, by taking part in radio phone-ins and 
by writing to the press.

+ Lobby and question candidates

Please contact your candidates as soon as they are declared.  Tell them 
your views.  Ask theirs.  Let us know the results (if any).  Whatever 
happens there will be a lot of new MPs in the next Parliament and we 
need them to know this is important, whoever they are.

Please don't neglect council candidates.  There are council elections in 
many parts of Britain on the same day, May 5th.  The growing band of 
local authorities supporting the campaign are and important sign of our 
seriousness.  We need all new (and old) councillors aware of the likely 
effects of the scheme on local government.

We will be issuing a "hustings briefing" shortly with a summary of any 
manifesto commitments, and some suggested questions to ask.  Get in 
touch with us to find out about how to use local hustings to spread the 
word. (hustings at no2id.net)

+ NO2ID MILTON KEYNES

Supporters in Bucks/South Northants area are reminded that there's an 
inaugural meeting for those who wish to be active in the Milton Keynes 
local group on Thursday (7th) at 8pm at 8 Harebell Close, Walnut Tree, 
Milton Keynes.  For further details, contact Steve on 01908 666168

+ CELEBRATION AND THANK-YOU

On the same evening, Thursday 7th April, we will be holding an 
open-house reception for all supporters and affiliates at the Blue Posts 
pub in London's Fitzrovia district (81, Newman St, London, W1T 3EU) from 
7pm.  We shall be inviting all our friends from parliament, the press, 
and other organisations, in the hope that they may have a few moments 
for us to say thank-you for their help before Parliament is formally 
dissolved and they are scattered across the country.  We will also ask 
our principal opponents, to demonstrate that we are not (_pace_ Baroness 
Gibson of Market Rasen) a sinister organisation.  So do please come 
along, if you can.  We want to thank you, too.


Guy Herbert
General Secretary, NO2ID