Words fail me:
In 20 years time, I suspect that the National Identity Scheme [ie, compulsory Identity Cards] will be just a normal part of British life – another great British institution without which modern life, whatever it looks like in 2020, would be quite unthinkable.
So says Liam Byrne MP, Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality. Determined to establish his bona fides as a comedian, Mr Byrne also would have us believe that:
Like the railways in the 19th century and the national grid in the 20th century, I think there are strong arguments for thinking of the National Identity System as a modern day public good - that very quickly becomes part and parcel of everyday life in Britain.
And he's not done there either. This statement might also cause the odd eyebrow to be raised:
My party has always been suspicious of growth in unregulated and unaccountable power and the risk of new inequalities.
This is, naturally, just another example of the government's belief that we must destroy our way of life to defend it. Once again, it used to be the case that Britons were proud that whereas foreigners were expected to carry identity cards in their own country, Britons were under no such obligation to do so in ours.
Equally naturally, this is justified in the name of security [nb: if it's not for the kids it's always for security], though Northern Ireland's unhappy experience might, you'd think, provide some evidence that identity papers are not a particularly important or useful counter-terrorist measure.
Hat tip: Mr Eugenides
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