On 22nd November, Bristol City Council will be voting on a motion designed to hinder the Government's controversial ID Cards Bill. Experts believe that the plan to collate all Government databases into the biggest database on citizens in the world may lead to a surveillance state similar to that of George Orwell's 1984.
Bristol West Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams voted against the ID Cards Bill in the House of Commons. He said: "ID cards are an unneccesary intrusion into our liberty. The database that will support the card will ultimately be used to build a detailed profile of all our private lives. The cost will be astronomical. The money would be better spent on extra police officers and other law enforcement officers."
The Government's own Information Commissioner felt compelled to warn the country against "sleepwalking into a surveillance state."
The motion, introduced by the Liberal Democrats, asks the Council to prevent ID Cards being required to access public services and to affiliate with the protest group No2ID.
Local therapist and No2ID representative, Dave Gould, will be leading a protest on College Green before speaking to the council. Gould recently embarrassed the Junior Minister in charge of ID Cards, Andy Burnham, on BBC Points West. Gould told us: "During my Computer Science degree at Bristol University, I wrote a dissertation on the Data Protection Act. I found out how our main defense against a Big Brother state is that we have no unique number to tie together all the different government and corporate databases.
I was appalled to find this ID Cards Bill not only numbers us, but the Government admits they are trying to create by far the most intrusive database on citizens the world has ever seen.
I was further shocked to find out that the RIP Act 2000 already compels private companies to share this data with the Government, and even install mass surveillance equipment in their own systems.
We have learned the hard way about the tools used by fascist dictators to control their citizens. But few people realise that one of the first punchcard databases was used by Adolf Hitler to keep track of and exterminate 6 million Jews.
This Government has already sneaked through legislation equivalent to Hitler's 1933 Enablement Act, granting them unlimited legal powers. Should we really wait for a Third Reich before we defend our human rights?"
Ends
No2ID protesters will be dressed in white coats and will measure & "cattle-tag" members of the public. This will be from 2pm until 6pm, 22nd November on College Green near the Council House. The Motion is expected after 3:30pm.
Dave Gould is available for interview/comment on 0117 914 9141, 07989 693646 or bristol@no2id.net. The interview with Andy Burnham came after No2ID tracked down the supposedly public roadshow when it came to Bristol. Local freelance journalist, Abi Foss, reported these events in the current New Statesman magazine.
The BBC Points West article was shown three times on 23rd October.
The Enablement clause is 21.3 in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Like Hitler's Bill, it gives the Government the legal power to do anything upon declaration of an emergency eg for disruption of power/water/petrol supply.
http://www.iainmurray.org/MT/archives/000898.html
http://jameshammerton.blogspot.com/2004/10/is-britain-headed-for-dictatorship.html
Full text of motion
Cllr Mark Wright to move:
This Council notes that the Home Secretary is currently attempting to push an ID Cards Bill through Parliament. This Bill will have an effect upon all of the people of Bristol.
This Council believes:
- That the disadvantages of such a scheme will outweigh any likely benefits to the people of Bristol.
- That the scheme will do little, if anything, to prevent terrorism, crime or fraud.
- That the national database that underpins the identity card scheme may facilitate criminal fraud, terrorism and potential state abuses of human rights.
- That the ID card and database proposals are likely to fundamentally alter the relationship between the state and the individual.
According to Government estimates, the cost of such a scheme could reach £5.5 billion, with independent commentators predicting substantially higher costs. Bristol residents will be required to pay an estimated £30 for a stand-alone ID card or £93 for a passport and ID card together.
This Council resolves to:
- Make representations at every possible stage, reiterating this Council's opposition to National ID cards
- Make it a policy of the council to ensure that national identity cards would not be required to access council services or benefits unless specifically required to do so by Act of Parliament
- Take no part in any pilot scheme or feasibility work in relation to the introduction of the national identity cards
- Only co-operate with the national identity card scheme where to do otherwise would be unlawful
- Affiliate to the 'No2ID' campaign, which already includes MPs, local authorities and several politial parties
- Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary expressing these views and asking him to reconsider his decision to push forward this legislation