[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Newsletter No.21

Wed Jun 1 09:38:14 BST 2005

NO2ID NEWSLETTER - Supporter's Newsletter No.21 - 31st May/1st June 2005
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For a fortnightly newsletter to be nearly two weeks late is 
embarrassing, and it's all my fault.  (Not the regular editor's.)  I 
held it up initially to get the details of the Queen's Speech in, but 
since then a lot has happened, as I hope you have noticed.  The question 
of ID control is now top of the agenda.  It has made us rather busy. 
Nevertheless, my apologies  - Guy Herbert, General Secretary NO2ID

+ BLAIR MAKES ID-BILL "VIRILITY TEST"

Of all the dozens of Bills announced for the coming session, the 
Government has made it clear that the Identity Cards Bill will be the 
flagship.  It is the most "modernizing", the one that is most Tony 
Blair's personal project.  Which means that the Prime Minister has a 
great deal invested in getting it through.  It is really hard to guess 
how this will play politically:  Will uneasy government supporters be 
pushed back into line in order not to embarrass the administration?  Or 
will those in the Labour Party who don't care about ID but don't much 
care for Mr Blair take the chance to weaken him?

+ THE SAME AGAIN -- OR IS IT?

The "new" Bill was published on 25th May.  It is to be found here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/009/2006009.htm

The changes are trivial.  As ever, the Home Office is ignoring its 
critics.  It has not even had the decency to change what the House of 
Lords Constitution Committee called its "misleading" title.

However, NO2ID has been well prepared for the battle this time.  We 
wrote a letter to every MP immediately after the election, tailored to 
each member's individual circumstances and providing a summary analysis 
of the issues.  We are in touch with a lot of new people.  We are 
gaining momentum, and the Government seems to be losing some.

The demonstration on the morning of the Queen's Speech that we mounted 
in association with Liberty did not itself get huge coverage.  But it 
was the springboard for yet more access to the media.  Thank you to 
everyone who took part.

+THE MOOD HAS CHANGED

Our continual efforts to educate the press and public are paying off. 
Last September when NO2ID was getting established, there was no public 
interest.  The introduction of the Bill in November was eventful only 
for the confusion in Tory policy.  By the eve of the election everybody 
but the Government agreed the proposals were "controversial", but few 
were quite sure why.

Now the press and opposition parties are united in their condemnation of 
the project.  (All plausible Conservative leadership candidates are 
bitter opponents of the scheme, and the party's opposition to big 
government now looks coherent again.)  It can only be pushed through by 
the Government machine with passive public acquiescence.

The announcement of an increased estimate of the cost "of the 
card"-really of a registration-seems to broken the threshold of public 
consciousness.  Now people are interested.  That has been the trigger 
for the media to start carrying stories about the database, which they 
only rarely did before.

+ WHAT YOU CAN DO

You too, are a key player in the education process.  As we always say to 
journalists and parliamentarians, state ID management would change our 
way of life fundamentally, so it ought to be discussed at every table 
and every bar.  So engage your friends and acquaintances.  Write to the 
local press.  There's a list of thongs you can do here:
http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/other.php
But for the parliamentary battle that is to happen shortly, there is one 
thing above all others...

+ CONTACT YOUR (LABOUR) MP NOW
Almost all the parties are now committed to oppose the Government's 
legislation when it is brought forward again.  But we need Labour 
backbenchers to rebel or Labour ministers to think better if it is to be 
stopped in the House of Commons.  This is now a real possibility.

So if you are in the majority of the population whose Member of 
Parliament is on the Government benches, then get in touch with them and 
tell them what you think of "Labour's Poll Tax".  MPs do listen to their 
constituents.  Even though a party loyalist may write the standard, 
approved, letter back, he or she will take notice, and might be 
influenced, if not to vote against, to find something very important to 
do elsewhere on the day of the debate.  If you are a Labour Party 
member, or Labour voter, or former Labour voter, as many of our 
supporters are, so much the better.  Do let them know how this 
legislation contradicts the interests and principles that you share.

You can contact your MP without leaving the computer:
http://www.writetothem.com/
What are you waiting for?

+PETITION PUSH WEEKEND

Our recent request to supporters to get friends and acquaintances to 
sign the petition resulted in nearly 2000 new supporters for the 
campaign in a week.  Now we have nearly 15,000 supporters, we are taking 
the campaign off the web and on to the streets.

Next weekend, 3rd/4th June, NO2ID local groups will be making a 
coordinated effort across the country to collect names and addresses of 
opponents of the legislation across the country.   Do help if you can:
http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/index.php
Our target is to double in size:  15,000 new supporters is easily 
possible.  It will show the Government the depth of opposition yet to be 
mobilised.

It isn't necessary to have a recognised NO2ID Group to collect 
signatures.  Every day's post brings , the petition and supporters forms 
that (sometimes unknown) individuals have taken round their 
acquaintances or collected on a street corner.  So please have a go this 
weekend.
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/NO2ID%20Petition.pdf
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/supportRegForm.pdf

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+ NO2ID LOCAL GROUPS

We now have 70 local groups.  The latest ones are in Bedford, Fulham, 
and Swindon.  Oxford, Leeds, and Sheffield are growing.  Liverpool has 
lots of activity, and should soon have a group.  Still there's a bit of 
a gap in the East Midlands, but there seems no particular reason why.

If you'd like to become a local contact for your town, you should be a 
member and be prepared to be contacted by supporters and local 
journalists.  We'll give you advice, some starter materials and a 
no2id.net email alias, but it will be your show.  It is quite easy to 
make a big impact.  This is a topic that people care about.  Read our 
campaign guide at:
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/index.php
to see how it is done.

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++ "ID" In the News
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The Queen's Speech: I.D.IOTIC  - Daily Mirror
"The battle for British liberties began yesterday following the 
announcement
of a compulsory ID card scheme"
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15528684&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=labour-s-3rd-term--the-queen-s-speech--i-d-iotic-name_page.html 

Price of ID card soars - Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=349971&in_page_id=1770#

When the eyes don't have it - New Statesman & Observer
"This card will open the door to disaster"
http://www.newstatesman.com/Ideas/200505300020

+ US Congress Passes REAL-ID Act
Analysis from the Register
www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/11/real_id_makes_terrorists_happy/

+ Dutch biometric passports to be introduced in 2006 - EU
Government Reform Minister Alexander Pechtold  says biometric passports 
will come in in 2006.
http://europa.eu.int/idabc/en/document/4240/194

Government in ID card talks with firms before Bill passed - The Times
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8209-1633485,00.html

More ID News at:
http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/index.php

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor: 
newsletter at no2id.net)
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Publication details:  (c) NO2ID 2005 - This document may be freely
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NO2ID, Box No.412, 78 Marylebone High Street, LONDON W1U 5AP