ID cards and the Deputy Leadership

Juvenal Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 06:52:32 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Where do the candidates stand on ID cards?



All six deputy leadership candidates talk of the need to engage with party members, so on 26 February I wrote to all of them, asking for their views on ID cards.

Five weeks on, and just two have replied.  I leave you to make your own judgements, and hope this post may provoke the other four into responding.

Harriet Harman:

"Thank you for your email, I appreciate you taking the time to contact me. I am in favour of a national identity register - in particular to ensure all have the right to vote, the which the current patchy electoral register doesn't provide."

Jon Cruddas:

"Thanks for your email and sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I do not object in principle to a national identity card scheme and I voted for the enabling legislation. However, I would want to scrutinise the detail of any actual scheme before making a final decision on it. There are a number of practical concerns, around the national identity register as much as the identity cards themselves, that I would want to see satisfactorily addressed."

Bread and Circuses



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ID cards and the Deputy Leadership | 6 comments (6 topical)

Re: ID cards and the Deputy Leadership (#1)

by CitizenAndreas on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 01:56:15 PM GMT

On theyworkforyou, all are listed as strongly in favour apart from Cruddas who is listed as moderately in favour.

Of the candidates only Hazel and Hilary have previously worked in the home office and might have a more detailed opinion on the subject.

Of course, far more important is the position of the leadership candidates, that would appear to be:
Gordon Brown - Yes
John McDonnell - No
Michael Meacher - Unknown


Re: ID cards and the Deputy Leadership (#2)

by jonesythered on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 05:10:22 PM GMT

"Michael Meacher - Unknown "

From theyworkforyou:

Moderately for introducing ID cards.

It's "moderately" because he's voted for the legislation when present, but has been absent on some votes.


[ Parent ]

Re: ID cards and the Deputy Leadership (#3)

by JR on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 12:03:52 AM GMT

Pleasantly surprised that Cruddas supports them. Maybe I'm not giving him enough credit!


Re: ID cards and the Deputy Leadership (#4)

by Juvenal on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 10:48:26 AM GMT

The exact reverse of my view JR - what a broad church the Labour Party is!


[ Parent ]

Re: ID cards and the Deputy Leadership (#5)

by Max on Wed May 23, 2007 at 02:44:18 PM GMT

I'd also like to know where they all stand on replacing Trident. Although the deputy leadership is a bit of a non-job, let's use this election as an opportunity to raise some policy issues.


Re: ID cards and the Deputy Leadership (#6)

by MacArthur on Thu May 24, 2007 at 10:23:25 AM GMT

A little guide detailing, briefly, their views on Trident, state pensions, ID cards, detention of terror suspects, nuclear energy, public transport provision, etc. There's loads to debate, and so little time to do it.


ID cards and the Deputy Leadership | 6 comments (6 topical)