By Andy McCue, 4 July 2005 14:00
NEWS Pensioners, priests and doctors are among thousands of people who have signed a pledge to resist the introduction of ID cards in the UK despite the threat of heavy fines and imprisonment.
The government narrowly won the ID card vote last week and the controversial bill is due to enter its committee stage this week before Parliament's summer recess.
But opponents of the ID card scheme are warning that a nationwide network of activists will make the enrolment process unworkable by refusing to carry a card or obstructing the registration process.
Almost 8,000 people have so far signed up to a pledge to defy the ID card scheme and to donate £10 each to a fighting fund that will be used for the legal costs of defending any refuseniks taken to court. Many lawyers have also signed up offering to work pro bono in support of the cause.
The names of those that have signed the pledge are also evidence of the widespread and growing backlash against the ID card scheme with 'middle England' strongly represented by a host of pensioners, reverends, doctors, councillors and MPs.
Phil Booth, national co-ordinator of the No2ID opposition group behind the pledge, told silicon.com the cost issue has sparked wider concerns among the general public about the whole ID cards bill.
"It's been one of those issues people haven't noticed coming but now that cost has alerted many people what we're seeing is a backlash against the unwarranted intrusion into people's private lives," he said.
He said pensioners' groups are concerned about the cost of the cards for older people and the potential difficulties in registering a biometric iris scan because of medical conditions such as cataracts.
"Pensioner groups are very active. When they get the bit between their teeth they are a phenomenal force to be reckoned with," he said.
Booth admitted that some people will be unwilling or unable, because of their job or position in society, to risk a £2,500 fine or jail sentence by refusing to enrol for a card but he said there are many other ways that ordinary citizens can legally obstruct the process.
"Even being mildly obstructive in that enrolment queue and taking an hour instead of 15 minutes will make this whole process absolutely unworkable," he said.
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Duncan
How are they going to fine us if they don't know who we are? And if they already know who we are, why do they need a card to tell them who we are? Also, as they will almost certainly be using the credit card companies database as a source for the data collection exercise, will they just be adding the fine onto our billls?
2. Warren Swaine
As the owner of an iPaq with a fingerprint scanner... here's a hint. smear your fingers with vaseline before registering!!! Alternatively, dip your finger pads in latex or a similar glue and let it dry. A whole database full of illegible fingerprints will be amusing.
I'm finding this whole id card scenario immensly funny... apart from the fact that my taxes are going to line the pockets of a PFI leech to pay for some Minister's macho-vanity because he refuses to admit he might have been wrong.
3. Dick Vinegar
All my fellow pensioners are pro-ID cards, having actually experienced them, and realise their worth in a threatening society.
I suppose the pensioners, who NO2ID have got at, are youngsters under 70, who never had to carry them.
It is absurd to imagine that the gov would make pensioners pay for them, or demand iris scans. They know we have votes. I suspect disinformation is at work, like a lot of the NO campaign.
As for the refuseniks who would disrupt the registration process, they seem to have the same mentality as hoodies, who hide their identities for rather unpleasant reasons - like mugging pensioners.
4. Dick Vinegar
All my fellow pensioners are pro-ID cards, having actually experienced them, and realise their worth in a threatening society.
I suppose the pensioners, who NO2ID have got at, are youngsters under 70, who never had to carry them.
It is absurd to imagine that the gov would make pensioners pay for them, or demand iris scans. They know we have votes. I suspect disinformation is at work, like a lot of the NO campaign.
As for the refuseniks who would disrupt the registration process, they seem to have the same mentality as hoodies, who hide their identities for rather unpleasant reasons - like mugging pensioners.
5. stinky weill
TO Dick Vinegar.
The cards that are being introduced IF the ID card bill gets through parliment
are a completely different kettle of fish to the card you would of carried during
the war.
The extensive and far reaching powers for changing and ammending the use and application and compulsion to use the card are truely a
matter for concern. And to be frank unless a person has read and listened
to the debating and committe procedures surrounding this issue, and
is aware of the not so mentioned EU involvement via various meetings etc,
I dont think the opinions of many people who are PRO the card are really
informed opinions, which is totally understandable given the vague details of the gov full intentions for the use and the introduction and compulsion to register for an id card.
Its all out there and i will certainly refuse to cooporate with any such scheme now or any time in the future.
6. Glyn Evans
Thank the heavens there are people who will stand up to this unwholesome nazi plan. the pro id card brigade should do some reaserch into bushes' history then they might just understand the real weight that is being 'thrown about' and why bliar is so much behind/up him. The whole idea stinks.