Not much more than a week before, I receive a message on the Local Groups mailing list asking if I would be prepared to come down to the Birmingham NO2ID Meeting where I would personally meet Local Group Co-ordinator - Matty Mitford and Birmingham Co-ordinator Michelle and the rest of the Birmingham Group.
I jumped at the chance 
so here is what I learned while I was down there.
After nearly getting lost in the wilds of Birmingham City Center 
Thanks to a helpful passer by, I found the location where everyone was. This being St Martins Church, The Bull Ring. After narrowly avoiding going off on a random getting lost spree I made it into the meeting with Matty Mitford addressing no less than 16 people. What a turnout!
She made lots of interesting points - here’s some of the stuff she said:
Progress
- NO2ID has made enormous headway recently and its National Co-ordinator Phil Booth has recently provided consultancy for the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives whom in the past did not have a policy regarding ID cards. His involvement has enabled both to decide (and rightly so) on a Anti ID stance.
- If 5% of current supporters were to become members, NO2ID would be the 2nd biggest civil rights group with Liberty being the first.
- Local Groups are immensely important, powerful and are vital in showing local councils and government that we aren’t having it and that dislike of the scheme is widespread across the UK. We are everywhere and making loads of noise about this scheme.
- Combined with local groups and the number of supporters NO2ID is representing a disproportionate voice against the scheme.
Transformational Government - Government Data Sharing
- The NHS Spine is going to be part of this new government initiative. Matty has become aware of the fact that it takes 18 seconds to log-in to this NHS database, this lengthily time has led to staff leaving it logged in all day. This is not good security for patient data and leaves it open for any member of staff or visitor to call up private medical records on the database.
- Your consent for your medical records being uploaded to the spine is implicit. You must opt out if you do not want them to be in this database.
- This system although seeming like progress, will violate the patient doctor confidentiality that you have come accustomed to over time. Once on this database there is a high risk that these details will come under scrutiny from unauthorised staff.
- There is zero provisions against data purchasing. Like the idea of your health records being sold to pharmaceutical companies?
Activism
- Local stalls really do work, my skepticism’s were blown away. Matty tells us of her setting up a stall in her local town (I forgot the name, will drop her a mail soon) and before they were even finished setting it up people were always asking where they could sign! She also mentions of a member of NO2ID Shrewsbury taking a placard with “HMRC Discs 20 Quid” on it, on that day he helped 72 people sign up as supporters.
- Stalls from a legal standpoint. Putting up a stall actually falls within your democratic rights. Asking for permission is effectively asking for a no, since there will be the inevitable question in council bureaucracy of “Who authorised this?”. The only time under which you may require permission is when the land you setup on is not classed as part of the public highway.
- When running a stall or simply out on the street raising public awareness, it is illegal to ask for money unless you have a license. However people offering money as a donation and placing it in a cup for example is fine.
- Monthly Meetings are also of course very important, this allows your group to gather and plan its activities. Its recommended to have a action planned by the end of it such as a Stall etc..
- Press Coverage is very healthy for your group. It gains you publicity and often many more members. Getting councilors involved and doing stuff outside important places will often gather the press in your direction.
- Holding sponsored events can also raise the profile of NO2ID in your area. These can include a quiz or concerts.
The night ended out in a local pub in Birmingham, had a great time, learnt a lot and met some great people. Michelle, Matty, everyone thanks for having me down!
You can learn more about NO2ID Birmingham by visiting their website.
