Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship
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Spin,
not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's
chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary
people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message';
the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being
like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might
tell the truth.
Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004
Blair wants to leave his
mark on history - looks more like a stain to me.
Peter Thorndyke, Diss,
Norfolk - Daily Mail, May 23, 2005
I know I'm me - why do I
need an ID card?
"Sorry, officers, I
don't have an ID card. I never applied for one. It seemed a bit steep
at 300 quid. I do have my free passport, my driving licence and my
London freedom travel pass, each with my photograph. I have my NHS
medical card, with its lengthy number, given me at birth, my RAF
service book with my Armed Forces number, and a chit authorising me to
wear a few gongs -including a General Service Medal with Malaya bar,
for fighting communist terrorists on behalf of my country, or so they
told me.
"I've also got various credit
cards and store cards, all with my signature on the back, generally
good for buying the everyday requrements for life as well as the odd
luxury. If you decide to arrest me, I suppose I'll have to be
photographed and given another number, besides my PINs.
"I'm afraid I haven't got a
pension book; it was taken away."
"By thieves, sir?"
"No ... well, not exactly. By the
Government. By the way, may I see your warrant cards please, gentlemen?"
Oh dear, they've disappeared. E.
Harry Gumer, Romford, ESSEX - Daily Mail, June 1, 2005
NO means NO
When does NO mean MAYBE?
When it's not the answer the EU wants.
With the
courageous French NON resounding in their ears, shabby, undemocratic
self-interested leaders of Europe propose ignoring the part of their
precious constitution that requires ratification by all members and
continuing without one of the biggest founder members to prevent
derailing the gravy train.
As in Ireland,
they refuse to accept any NO votes, ignoring the will of the people,
and re-stage votes until they can engineer the 'correct' answer. Sadly,
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw dances to their tune like a puppet on a
string. With tactics such as these, how can anyone really believe the
EU has our interests at heart. Letter from Steve Penny, Kingsnorth, Kent - Daily
Mail, June1, 2005
Surely
the French result makes the £1million the EU recently spent on a
treaty signing ceremony seem a trifle premature and extravagant. Letter from Keith Wiseman, Bury, Lancs. - Daily Mail,
June1, 2005
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May 31, 2005 (761 days since war
ended)
Death Toll: 1,657 US - 89 UK - >6,164?
Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media
June 17, 2005 (779 days since war
ended)
Death Toll: 1,716 US - 89 UK -
>6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media
June 26, 2005 (788 days since war
ended)
Death Toll: 1,737 US - 89 UK -
>6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media
July 6, 2005 (798 days since war
ended)
Death Toll: 1,751 US - 90 UK -
>6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media
August 24, 2005 (847 days since
war ended)
Death Toll: 1,869 US - 93 UK - >>6,164?
Iraqi - >>17,300? civilians - 25 media
September
29, 2005 (883 days since war ended)
Death Toll: 1,928 US - 96 UK - >>6,164?
Iraqi - >>17,300? civilians - 25 media
October
11, 2005 (895 days since war ended)
Death Toll: 1,956 US - 96UK - >>6,164?
Iraqi - >>17,300? civilians - 25 media
Britain has
traditionally been one of the biggest net contributors to the EU
because we do not get as much money back from Brussels in farm and
regional subsidies as our rivals.
According to
Treasury figures, between 1995-2002, Britain's average contribution
taking the rebate into account, was £2.6billion, or £43.55
per head of population.
The French -
the biggest recipient of farm subsidies - contributed £1billion a
year or £16.08 per head of their population.
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ID
cards will lead to 'massive fraud'
GERRI
PEEV - POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT - The Scotsman , October 18, 2005
Key
points
• Microsoft warned the scheme could generate a massive amount
of ID fraud
• May be a Commons rebellion over whether the bill should
get a 3rd reading
• It is proposed the ID cards will carry 13 personal identifiers,
such as iris scans and finger prints
Key
quote
"Unlike other forms of information, such as credit card details,
if core biometric details such as your fingerprints are compromised,
it is not going to be possible to provide you with new ones,"
- Mr Fishenden, national technology officer for Microsoft
The
government's case for identity cards has been dealt a serious
blow on the day of a crucial Commons vote after software giant
Microsoft warned that the proposals could generate "massive
identity fraud" on a scale as yet unseen.
In
an article for The Scotsman today, Jerry Fishenden, national technology
officer for Microsoft, says the proposal to place "biometrics"
- or personal identifiers such as fingerprints - on a central
database could perpetuate the "very problem the system was
intended to prevent". He says ministers "should not
be building systems that allow hackers to mine information so
easily".
The
timing of the warning could not have been worse for the government;
ministers have been arm-twisting behind the scenes to stave off
a Commons rebellion tonight over whether the bill should get a
third reading. Many Labour MPs have concerns about the scheme
and some have vowed to side with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives
in opposing identity cards. The bill is expected to scrape through
today, but the House of Lords is set to give it a tougher time.
Mr
Fishenden says, as no computer system is ever 100 per cent secure,
"putting a comprehensive set of personal data in one place
produces a honeypot effect - a highly attractive, richly rewarding
target for criminals".
Ministers
propose putting 13 personal identifiers, like iris scans, fingerprints
and facial imprints, on to a central database, along with personal
details such as names and addresses. But the technology expert
warns that holding these details in one place "is something
that no technologist would ever recommend" and could leave
individuals helpless if their details were compromised.
"Unlike
other forms of information, such as credit card details, if core
biometric details such as your fingerprints are compromised, it
is not going to be possible to provide you with new ones,"
Mr Fishenden says. Using the same "identifiers" every
time the ID card is presented is a "highly risky technical
design" and could inadvertently broadcast personal information
to fraudsters or private companies. Having to produce this much
information for every service is "unnecessary" as systems
could be designed to ensure that only the relevant data is revealed
each time. "Would
you be happy if online auction sites, casinos or car rental company
employees are given the same identity information that provides
you with access to your medical records?" Mr Fishenden writes.
The
fact that Microsoft - which has bid as part of various consortia
for numerous government contracts - has outlined its concerns
about the security risks will alarm ministers. Opposition politicians
last night branded the scheme "farcical" after Tony
McNulty, the Home Office minister in charge of ID cards, conceded
that people might be identified inaccurately by the biometric
checks.
Internal
documents at the Home Office highlighting the failures of the
biometric technology - including the revelation that those who
are bald or have brown eyes might have trouble being identified
- have further emboldened rebels. An earlier trial involving 10,000
volunteers showed ethnic minorities, the elderly and disabled
were at risk of being wrongly identified. Studies have found being
scanned in shadow could also lead to an inaccurate identification.
More
"defects" were uncovered in the proposals every week,
said Edward Garnier, the Tory home affairs spokesman and chairman
of the public accounts committee. "The sooner Gordon Brown
pulls the plug on this scheme, the better," he said, branding
identity cards an "expensive waste of money". Conservatives
are not expected to deploy the full force of their whips to force
their MPs to oppose the bill, however, as the vote clashes with
the first-round poll in the Tory leadership race.
Mark
Oaten, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said: "The ID
card bill is rapidly descending into farce, but the costs are
still rising." The
Lib Dems will today attempt to have the bill returned to a Commons
select committee, arguing MPs have not been given enough assurances
or information about the cost and technology involved.
The
Scottish National Party was also last night seeking cross-party
support for an amendment to the bill to prevent government from
issuing ID cards without a further resolution from parliament.
The party said this would give MPs the opportunity to make a final
judgment on the cost of the cards and on the accuracy and effectiveness
of the technology.
Stewart
Hosie, the SNP's home affairs spokesman, said if the system descended
into "chaos", leaving families facing an "ID tax"
of hundreds of pounds, "then there must be a mechanism in
place for MPs to block a costly or defective scheme".
A
Home Office spokesman said: "Biometric technology is being
introduced all over the world - for example, to holiday in the
US, UK citizens will need a biometric passport. We are taking
action now to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century -
on crime, security, the speed and nature of communication and
international travel and everyday transactions.
"By
using biometric data, linked to a national database, we can provide
a modern, secure means of confirming identity, helping us to crack
down on identity fraud, immigration abuse, illegal working and
organised crime."
The
government plans to start phasing in the ID card scheme - which
is expected to cost at least £5.8 billion - from 2008. Last
week, Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, attempted to alleviate
Labour MPs' fears by suggesting a "budget" identity
card that would cost £30 but would not encompass a passport.
Soaring
crime
IDENTITY
fraud has rocketed to almost seven times the level of six years
ago, a new study has found. The UK's fraud prevention service,
Cifas, estimates there will have been 135,000 reported incidents
by the end of 2005 - from just 20,000 in 1999.
The
crime is thought to cost the UK at least £1.3 billion a
year. A recent study found three-quarters of household waste contained
sensitive material, such as bank statements.
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