I decided our group should go for one last stall run before Christmas and boy were we not disappointed.

In the space of a few hours, we had 38 signatures (a kind lady even got us some coffee as it was mighty cold!). A highly successful day for us and proof that even during the rush up to Xmas celebrations the people of Worcester and its surrounding areas object enough to the idea of the National ID card and most importantly the National ID Database (that will become whitehall’s personal dossier on you) to stop and sign our petition.

Pay attention Worcester MP Michael Foster - Its clear your constituents do not want this scheme. Furthermore. Labour City Councillors in Liverpool have recently passed a motion against the scheme despite Central Government pushing to make Manchester a beacon city for ID Card Support. Its clear to see that even members of your own party are realising the danger, expense, privacy issues surrounding the scheme.

Help give them an National ID Scheme free 2010.

In September myself and a heroic volunteer ran a stall in the middle of a busy Worcester city centre.

For our first time out there (properly) it was a big hit and landed us around 30 signatories on our petition sheets. One guy was so fired up he wanted to help in whatever way he could. I dont know if he got nervous (no emails yet) but whoever you were - show yourself!

Plans are also afoot to run another in the next months or so. We can be even more active if we get more active people. If you’re out there wondering how you can help then get in touch!

So bring a friend or member of family and prepare for a night of drinks, debate and National ID scheming ;).

Jacqui Smith sure might be gone but the Home Office holds the policy not her. The fight has not changed. Same home secretary goals, different spin.

See you all there!

Attendees:

[Someday I shall learn to announce these meetings in good time...]

Mark Walker (Local Group Coordinator)

Brian Gladman (Local Group Technical Contact)

Discussion

Website Redesign

Plans are afoot to give a bit of a makeover of the website in the coming months so get it a little more attractive looking for the student population.

Clause 152 - Justice and Coroners Bill

The outcome of all of the NO2ID local groups acting as one resulted in this dangerous piece of legislation being dropped from the Bill. No doubt another attempt will be made but we shall be ready.

Council Motion

Mention was given to the motion being passed and the possible plans to expand it to other nearby councils. Bromsgrove District for example….

See you all next month!

Well as the title suggests;

We have successfully gotten motions passed with both Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council

It is thanks to some good councillors that the Worcestershire and Wyre Forest shall be shielded from the National Identity Scheme for as long as it is lawful. No pilot schemes and no feasibility studies etc..

Rather than me explain it in my words, here is the motion passed by both councils (names differing of course):

This Council notes the Government’s plans to introduce ID cards. This scheme will have an effect upon all of the people of the Wyre Forest District.

This Council believes:

1. That the disadvantages of such a scheme will outweigh any likely benefits to the people of Wyre Forest District.
2. That the scheme will do little, if anything, to prevent terrorism, crime or fraud.
3. That the national database that underpins the identity card scheme may facilitate criminal fraud, terrorism and potential state abuses of human rights.
4. 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

£7.5 billion, with independent commentators predicting substantially higher costs. Wyre Forest residents will be required to pay £93 for a passport and ID card together.

This Council resolves to:

1. Affiliate to the ‘No2ID’ campaign, which already includes MPs and several political parties.
2. Make representations at every possible stage, reiterating this Council’s opposition to ID cards.
3. Take no part in any pilot scheme or feasibility work in relation to the introduction of the national identity cards.
4. 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 law
5. Only co-operate with the national identity card scheme where to do otherwise would be unlawful.

Special Thanks to:

Councillors Fran Oborski and Howard Martin for their inital support on the initial proposed motion and all those who voted with the motion at their respective council meetings.

For those interested, the voting scores at each respective council were as follows:

WCC: 34 votes to two with 15 abstentions.

WFDC: 38 votes to 4

Mark Walker (Local Group Coordinator)

Brian Gladman

John Laws

Margaret Laws

Discussion

Issues associated with Clause 152 of the Justice and Coroners Bill

All of our attendees (even those attending in spirit) contacted their MP and mentioned their concern over this Bill. Shockingly none of them chose to reply. Now since I have not seen everyone elses letter I cannot hazard a guess why no reply was sent. They are supposed to reply regardless! Even so, what I do know is that I followed the previously mentioned guide to writing to your MP by the Open Rights Group to the letter.

I did get an opportunity to talk about the response I got from my local MP Dr Richard Taylor.

Council Motion Progress

Brought to the groups attention, was the progress made in getting councillors supporting an ID card motion. Wyre Forest DC’s Fran Oborski and Martin Howard; shown by their printed email dialogue got behind me on this one without hesitation. Very encouraging. A plan was discussed regarding sensitising other council members to the motion set to be tabled.

An Approach!

Our NO2ID trifolds got us in trouble… nah not really we just got some attention that we dont usually get. We were approached by someone froma nearby table. Great stuff I thought. Some of the group got a little too fired up with her questions, I was aiming to answer them calmly…but hey ho theres enough other people in Worcester to practice on!

See you all next month

Acting on this shocking information, I headed over to writetothem.com and got busy with a letter to my MP Dr Richard Taylor. Armed with the highly useful guide the Open Rights Group have for writing to your MP in the correct manner I wrote the below letter (my grammar errors fixed for readability).

Dear Richard Taylor,

I am concerned about Clause 152 of the Coroners and Justice Bill;
converting the Data Protection Act into its exact opposite - which will
be due for its first debate in the Commons on Monday 26th January.

This affects me because the introduction of this Bill will remove all
limits on the use of my private information by officials. The power
given would allow officials to take my private information from anywhere
and pass it anywhere they like.

The Bill would allow Ministers to make “Information Sharing Orders” that
can alter any Act of Parliament and cancel all rules of confidentiality
in order to allow information obtained for one purpose to be used for
another.

I would be grateful if you were to read Part 8 (clauses 151 - 154) of
the Coroners and Justice Bill and to oppose the massive enabling power
in the “Information Sharing” clause. The Bill contains numerous
controversial provisions, but to the casual reader it appears to mainly
be reforming inquests and sentencing.

Finally I ask that you demand that that the clause be given proper
Parliamentary scrutiny as this is something that will affect every
single one of your constituents unlike the rest of the bill.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Walker

On the 28th of January….

Dear Mr Walker,

Thank you for your email of 22nd January 2009 alerting me to the Clause 152 of the Coroners and Justice Bill and its effect on the Data Protection Act.

During the debate, which took place on 26th January, many MP’s - mostly from the Opposition side - did flag up their concerns about this part of the Bill and it will certainly be reviewed on the Standing Committee that is to follow.

My contribution was regrettably cut to only 8 minutes and, as I was the only one there, and one of only 6 medically qualified MP’s, I concentrated on death certificates and cremation certificate. I was only able to mention that I was concerned about the effects on the Data Protection Act right at the end. Should you wish to read my contribution, you can find it online at:

http:/www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm

Thank you very much for writing.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Taylor

If his reply is not enough for you then you can find his mention during his time to speak during the Bill’s second reading below:

However, along with many others, I do not welcome the parts that imply secrecy, or those that ride rather roughshod over data protection measures. And there I must finish, having used my allocated few minutes.

If you want to read the full text of the debate you can find it here if you want to read the section where Richard speaks the above quoted paragraph you can find it here at the bottom of the page.

I fully understand that this was a very important bill for many others reasons for him and appreciate that he gave the concerns I raised a mention.

Thanks Dr Richard for the reply, Matty Mitford - Local Groups coordinator for bringing this to our attention so rapidly and Birmingham NO2ID for putting the content of the email up on their blog so I could link to it!

Grab your nearest friend and head on down to a night of drinks and constructive talk on the issues of the National Identity Scheme. What it is, what it means for you and what we can do to stop it.

Whatever your standing on this matter, feel free to join us at the usual time of 8pm at The Portobello Inn, St Johns, Worcester on Wednesday the 11th of February.

Why not bring a friend? Many people I speak to dont even know the National ID Scheme exists, its a mind stimulating, eye opening for anyone who fancies something different!

Where abouts in the The Portobello you ask?

You can find us in the Lounge Bar, just look out for the NO2ID Logo and you’ll find us!

See you there!

Mark Walker (Local Group Coordinator)

Brian Gladman

Stuart Herbert (newcomer/observer)

We did not really expect high numbers as notice of its happening were sent out at short notice and its the Christmas season.

Discussion

Plans for the Worcester Stall this coming Saturday (13th)

Going to be in front of the Guild Hall, at least two members of Birmingham NO2ID shall assist with numbers and that it was going to be happening in the Afternoon. I shall update you all with more detail shortly.

Guest/Observer introductions

Myself and Brian gave a brief rundown on the ID card issue we meet about - these included:

• Costs
• Mass Data Collection/Surveillance and the risks of that with recent Data losses.
• Storing of Biometrics despite innocence

We also gave a briefing on what the group had been doing in the last few months.

Council Motion Strategy

Largely conservative council but some seemed unconcerned/uninterested about the ID cards issue. Methods of encouraging an interest talked about. Should be able to pursue one being put through before the end of January 2009 if action is taken.

Noticed we have been quite quiet? Yes this is very true. The injuries from my accident meant walking was a hell of a game and the last months meeting never really happened. Sad but true.

The end of the year looms but I think its perfectly worth continuing as normal with our usual group meeting. With myself being unable to hold meetings in the last few months, I intend to keep NO2ID Worcester(shire) firmly together.

There are even plans afoot to do a stall this weekend!

So as always anyone is welcome to turn up. The curious, the players of devils advocate and casual observer - all of you are welcome

Location is the Portobello Inn at 8pm - Wednesday the 10th of December. A link to directions can be found on meetings page of the website.

See you all there!