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ID cards passed despite abstentions (National ID cards are coming to the UK)
Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12/21/04 | George Jones

Posted on 12/23/2004 2:29:25 AM PST by jalisco555

Government plans for national identity cards were approved by the Commons last night despite more than a quarter of MPs not voting.

Although Conservative and Labour rebels failed to derail the Identity Cards Bill, they provoked a highly embarrassing mass abstention.

The Bill was given a second reading by 385 votes to 93, a Government majority of 292, indicating that dozens of Labour and Tory backbenchers abstained.

Of a total voting strength of 651, 173 MPs were absent or decided not to vote on one of the Government's flagship measures proposing the biggest changes to individual liberties for 50 years.

A wrecking amendment proposed by Tory and Labour rebels seeking to deny the Bill a second reading was rejected by 306 to 93, a Government majority of 213.

The revolt was a blow both for Tony Blair and Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, who backed the legislation despite the misgivings of many of his MPs.

At one stage Bill Cash (C, Stone) brandished a copy of George Orwell's novel 1984 at the Home Secretary, challenging him to repudiate claims that the measure would effect a "sea change" in the relationship between state and individual.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: idcards; nannystate; nationalid; noprivacy; privacy; uk
And the power of the state just grows and grows.
1 posted on 12/23/2004 2:29:25 AM PST by jalisco555
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To: jalisco555
At least there was an attempt to highlight the bill. Measures like this should never be passed without the direct consent of the public. I'm sure the Swiss would cheerfully teach the Brits how to hold a referendum if they ask.

Mind you, even if the public approved it (And there's never a shortage of fools) there should still be auto sunset clauses of short duration to make the government have to work to retain it...but that ain't going to happen...there's always a good reason for encroaching on liberties and never a reason to give them back...

2 posted on 12/23/2004 4:16:53 AM PST by Androcles
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To: jalisco555

Add in a people tracking device and you will have the mark of the beast before you can say brave new world.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42058


3 posted on 12/23/2004 4:17:41 AM PST by protest1
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To: jalisco555
There's one tiny leeetle thing missing from this article - like the fact that it won't be implemented for ten years.

I happened to see the opening of Parliament on BBC (don't ask why, I really don't know) and this was discussed by the 'panel of beeb pundits' covering it. The Queen mentioned it as one "her governments goals" in her litany of things she wanted accomplished.

In any case, the first to get the ID cards will be passport renewals, then when drivers licenses get renewed and so forth. It's not like everyone will be lining up Jan 1st to get 'their papers'. Bottom line is there's a ten year time factor to fully implement this.

Now if our Congress was to go this route, they wouldn't be so practical. They'd order it done all at once and it would naturally be FUBAR, like all our gubmints 'plans'.

(Boys & girls can you say 600 pages just to describe/outline out new Intelligence Dept? There -- I knew you could.)

4 posted on 12/23/2004 5:20:35 AM PST by Condor51 (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Gen G Patton)
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