Identity Cards Bill

The ““Oxford English Dictionary”” gives the following definition of ““voluntary””:"““done, given, or acting of one’s own free will””." This debate is not only about the fate of a Bill that will introduce one of the most expensive, illiberal follies in recent times—it is also about our specific disagreement on the meaning of that one word. The Labour party’s manifesto at the last election was refreshingly—some would say uncharacteristically—clear on the introduction of identity cards. ID cards would, the manifesto said—it bears repetition—be rolled out"““initially on a voluntary basis as people renew their passports””." Liberal Democrat Members take that to mean simply what it says—that when renewing their passports, individuals will be able to choose, of their own free will, whether they wish to receive ID cards as well. Yet by way of a painful linguistic contortion that the Home Affairs Committee has rightly condemned as stretching"““the English language to breaking point””," the Government now seek to persuade us that ““voluntary”” actually means ““compulsory””. In rejecting Lords amendment No. 16, the Government are saying that every time someone renews their passport, they must receive an ID card; that every time someone applies for a new passport to pop across to Calais, visit relatives abroad or go on holiday to sunnier climates, they must receive an ID card; and that every time someone goes abroad for business with a new passport, they must receive an ID card. About 80 per cent. of all Britons possess a passport and are likely to wish to renew it in the coming years. How can the Government seriously ask us to believe that a scheme that could compel up to 80 per cent. of the British population to possess ID cards is voluntary? That is possible only if we all suspend our shared understanding of the English language. A Government who specialise in stealth taxation now want to start on stealth compulsion. A Government who have built their reputation on spin are now reaching new heights of doublespeak.