Blackheath Residents Reject ID Cards (Lewisham Liberal Democrats)

Lewisham Liberal Democrats <info@lewishamlibdems.org.uk>

Blackheath Residents Reject ID Cards

June 18, 2006 12:00 AM

Nearly two-thirds of Blackheath residents oppose the Government's Identity Card scheme according to a survey conducted by Blackheath Liberal Democrats. Even among Labour voters, less than half (48%) favour Tony Blair's proposal.

The results show that people are turning against New Labour's control-freak tendency.

Councillor Mark Bennett (Blackheath Ward) said, "As people discover more about Blair's scheme to keep tabs on every law-abiding citizen, they quickly reject it."

"The recent Labour-directed shambles at the Home Office shows how out of touch the Government is. Rather than waste billions on identity cards, they ought to start dealing properly with the criminals they have incarcerated."

"What really ought to concern Lewisham's New Labour groupies is that among those who used to vote Labour, 69% oppose ID Cards,"

"They're unlikely to win those voters back with a £300 identity tax."

"Labour Mayor Steve Bullock claims to be unable to tell the difference between the proposed ID Card and his supermarket loyalty card. People who live in the real world know that Tesco's won't fine you £1,000 for failing to update their database or refuse to serve you if you don't carry your card."

Cllr Bennett is a co-ordinator of the local campaign group, Lewisham No2ID.

Councillor Godfried Gyechie (Blackheath Ward) added, "Locally, Liberal Democrats are at the forefront of the fight against ID Cards. We fully support the all-party national campaign, No2ID."

"The ID Card Act was passed into law in March. In due course anyone who needs a new passport will be required to attend an interrogation centre to be fingerprinted, photographed and logged like a common criminal."