Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Excellent article by Christina Zaba of No2ID in the Guardian today on how the ID Cards Act became law in 2006 as part of the Blair and now Brown policy of 'Transformational Government' - for more on this mouthful you can go to the horse's mouth itself HERE.
But what does it all mean exactly? It reminds me that I have still not seen a reliable report on the 53 questions we are going to have to answer on leaving the country, apparently announced as part of the Prime Minister's liberty agenda although he did not mention it precisely in his speech. I blogged the Daily Mail's analysis, but with all respect to a fighting paper, it can be sensational at times... Over at the Guardian/Observer complex Henry Porter (who I link to) wrote about the plans for a UK exit inquisition (to use the Mail's term) and this Saturday Jenni Russell mentioned it at the start of a fine column:
In future, we won't be able to leave the country without answering 53 questions on everything from our travel plans and companions' itineraries to our frequent-flyer information and history of no-shows. One item on the government's list is headed: "Anything else the travel agent finds of interest". Another has the catch-all category: "Any other biographical information". Anyone seen as potentially suspicious could be refused permission to board trains or planes, without right of appeal.
Can they really expect such a scheme to work? Where is the official policy set out on this? How much of it is just proposed and how much actually decided, and under what law and authority? Despite the two mentions I have never seen a single detailed news report in the Guardian setting out the facts. Is there a reliable analysis anywhere else, for example in the FT, of what travel has in store? Can anyone tell me where to find a clearly written, non-sensational analysis? The same goes for 'transformational government' and I write as a signed-up supporter of No2ID. I am beginning to feel like the Marx Brothers famous song, "Whatever it is - I'm against it!" And the more I don't know what it and can't find out the more I will be against it!
I could blame the government. I could blame the media. I could blame them both. Whatever it is... but I'd prefer to know.
