Monday, January 30, 2006
Another blow to ID cards
The Government has suffered another blow to its ID card proposals with the announcement by Lord Carlile of Berriew that he has changed his mind on the subject and now believes that they will be of 'limited value' in the war on terror.
Alex Carlile has worked for some time as the official reviewer and overseer of Britain's anti-terror laws, so his views carry considerable weight. He was previously in favour of ID cards but according to the BBC he has now concluded that they are not needed. He says that they would not have prevented the terror attacks on London on 7 July:
"I can't think of many terrorist incidents, in fact I can think of very few... that ID cards would have brought to an earlier end," he told GMTV.
........"ID cards could be of some value in the fight against terrorism but they are probably of quite limited value. They would be an advantage but that advantage has to be judged against the disadvantages which Parliament may see in ID cards.
"I certainly don't think the absence of ID cards could possibly have any connection with the events of last July.
"There may be a gain from the security viewpoint in the curtailment of civil liberties, but Parliament has to be the judge about whether the proportion is right."
He added: "I think Parliament is so unenthusiastic about the ID cards that, in reality, this is a debate rather than a reality.
"I don't think they will get through a compulsory ID card system immediately."
With the House of Lords defeating the government on key amendments to this legislation and with Labour Minister's arguments for ID cards being demolished one by one, the whole project looks in trouble. Even if Labour do get the proposal on the statute book the cost of ID cards both to government and to the public could lead to a revolt that would make opposition to the Poll Tax seem like a stroll in the park.
Alex Carlile has worked for some time as the official reviewer and overseer of Britain's anti-terror laws, so his views carry considerable weight. He was previously in favour of ID cards but according to the BBC he has now concluded that they are not needed. He says that they would not have prevented the terror attacks on London on 7 July:
"I can't think of many terrorist incidents, in fact I can think of very few... that ID cards would have brought to an earlier end," he told GMTV.
........"ID cards could be of some value in the fight against terrorism but they are probably of quite limited value. They would be an advantage but that advantage has to be judged against the disadvantages which Parliament may see in ID cards.
"I certainly don't think the absence of ID cards could possibly have any connection with the events of last July.
"There may be a gain from the security viewpoint in the curtailment of civil liberties, but Parliament has to be the judge about whether the proportion is right."
He added: "I think Parliament is so unenthusiastic about the ID cards that, in reality, this is a debate rather than a reality.
"I don't think they will get through a compulsory ID card system immediately."
With the House of Lords defeating the government on key amendments to this legislation and with Labour Minister's arguments for ID cards being demolished one by one, the whole project looks in trouble. Even if Labour do get the proposal on the statute book the cost of ID cards both to government and to the public could lead to a revolt that would make opposition to the Poll Tax seem like a stroll in the park.
Labels: ID
