The UK civil liberties monitor

Poll Predicts Millions to March Against ID Cards

A new opinion poll by independent research group yougov shows that 61% of people support ID Cards in principle. This is way down from the previously claimed 80%.

Almost half of those surveyed objected to the proposals in the draft Bill to force innocent citizens to keep the Government informed of their address. Other measures in the draft Bill such as being fined for not telling the Government of a lost card were fiercely opposed.

It seems that the more the British people learn about Blunkett's plans the angrier they get.

The poll found opposition to compulsory ID Cards was so strong that almost five million British citizens are prepared to join protest marches. In addition, a massive three million people would be prepared to take part in civil disobedience in order to scupper the oppressive plans.

Opposition was particular strong amongst those aged under thirty where 34% were "strongly opposed" to the plans.

Commenting on the results Simon Davies of Privacy International said: "What this survey suggests is that the government is staring down the barrel of another Poll Tax revolt, but on a larger scale."

Full story at ePolitix.com.

Detailed poll results (pdf format) at: Privacy International

PS: If you're in London, don't forget the public meeting this afternoon.

---

Public Meeting on ID Cards - Glasgow, May 20th

The more that people learn about the Government's Identity Card plans the more worried they get.

The latest public meeting to be announced will be in Glasgow - one of the locations chosen by Westminster for testing biometric technology.

The organisers say:

We are a new group that came together because we found out that Glasgow was going to be one of the trial sites for the biometric ID card scheme and we felt that this was a serious threat to our civil liberties.

We have started educating ourselves about the issue, produced a leaflet, and have called a public meeting on Thursday 20th May, 7pm, at the printworks social centre, 58 Albion St, in the merchant city (0141 552 4551) to try and get more people involved in the campaign and to inform people of what we have found out.

Thousands of leaflets have so far been distributed and information is being collected and stockpiled in the printworks social centre for future use during the campaign.

We have started having regular meetings every Thursday at 7pm at printworks and we would really welcome anyone else who wanted to get involved.

Their website is at:
http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid;=1

---

Blair to Rush Through ID Cards

The Independent reports that Blair is planning a short autumn session of Parliament. This is to allow a clear run to next year's General Election.

In the limited time available, Blair has reportedly asked Ministers to prioritise two Bills: The Europe Bill and David Blunkett's discredited ID Card Bill.

So expect every political trick in the book to be used to get the Bill through both Houses with a minimum of reasoned debate.

It is often said that rushed legislation is bad legislation. When legislation starts out as badly as Blunkett's ID Card scheme and is then rushed it can only get worse.

The imposition of ID Cards on innocent British citizens is a major constitutional change for which the Government has no mandate. Any vote on such a controversial issue must be a free vote.

To rush it through Parliament in this way would be an insult not just to the British public but also to democracy.

---