During the ID Card Consultation of 2003 I sent responses to my MP and to the official consultation through the stand web site. Both were individually written (no form letters or tick boxes) and yet my response was considered by the Home Office as part of "inspired samples or surveys". My view was not considered as an opinion of an individual. This made me angry. On the plus side, maybe that means I won't have to have my own card but can share one with the other 5000 people who responded to the consultation through stand.
No identification without representation
In late 2002 rumours of a UK ID card started circulating in the press. I have a few concerns with the concept, mainly as I've yet to see what problem they actually solve, so I emailed my MP (Labour) to express my views. To my surprise I got a reply and amongst other things he said:
"Usually at times of crises there is talk of the usefulness of having a national identity card. Fotr [sic] all the reasons you have outlined they do not go very much further. The entitlement card was just another version of the preoccupation of some civil servants (usually in the Home Office) with the idea. [...] I really do not hear of any serious move down this road at UK level."
In early 2003 there was a public consultation on the matter. Again I emailed my MP reiterating my concerns and also sent a copy of the email to the Home Office as an official response to the consultation via the stand web site. Over 5000 other people did the same thing, after being assured by the government that responses submitted through the site would be considered as legitimate consultation responses.
Disenfranchise this!
On 28 April 2003 it was stated by Beverly Hughes that only 2000 responses had been received as part of the consultation and that these responses had been about 2:1 in favour of the scheme. I was fuming. I wrote again to my MP and got another reply (I have to admit I have been quite impressed by him at least) agreeing that the views through stand should have been counted individually and that I should put my full complaint in writing to him so he could take it to the Home Office. So I did.
I finally got a reply from the Home Office in early 2004. It was a long letter and a copy of the official consultation document but can be summarised as "we don't care, sod off". As far as they're concerned everyone who submitted their response through stand effectively just signed a petition. 5000 people who wrote individual responses to the consultation have had their responses thrown together and considered as one. I'm in an unusual position of feeling rather well disposed towards my MP and yet thoroughly disgusted at the government that he is a part of, to be honest I'd prefer that it was the other way around.
So here I am. I've written again to my MP following Blair's proclamation that there is "no longer a civil liberties objection to ID cards" on 1 April to make sure that my objection was recorded but I'm not sure there's much he can do. So I've made this site. Those of you who know me through b3ta will know that I'm a 'picture person' so I'm making some pictures and games to help raise awareness of some of the issues. There are plenty of other people tracking the governments actions and media attention so I have linked to them for those of you who want to find out more.
Thanks for visiting.
eclectech :)
