NO2ID

Dianne Abbot has made the cut to stand as a potential leader. If memory serves she was lukewarm to ID cards and the NIR. Will her running allow for open debate within the opposition of their stance on the NIR etc. I realise it won't effect the current repeal act but it could positively mould the new New Labour's mindset on such matters.
Thoughts?

I think the answer to that is very much a 'yes', though perhaps not immediately.

Alan Johnson's response to Pete Wishart (got that right this time) in parliament today suggests that ID/NIR are unlikely to be in the next Labour Manifesto but he did add a qualifier about it being up to the party as a whole.

I think 'not immediately', because quite a lot of people would need to do some significant backpedalling on the issue of how we absolutely desperately needed the things before they can leave it unmentioned.
There's still a few that won't let go, and they might still hang on to the idea, but unless something changes they are likely to be in the minority.

I guess we'll find out by the time of the party conferences, but we've already had some of the leadership hopefuls making hints in the right direction and with any luck that drift will continue.

Diane Abbott's was the first Constituency Labour Party to vote to affiliate to NO2ID - possibly as early as 2004, but definitely by 2005. She voted against both Identity Cards Bills at Second Reading and, as I recall, several times against making entry in the Register compulsory. We know that extraordinary pressure was being brought to bear on some of the Labour rebels, especially during ping-pong, so I wouldn't read too much into the summary results on Public Whip. Diane has been a staunch and consistent ID opponent for many years.

Your broader point about "Labour's mindset" - though think for a minute how offended you might be if someone referred to you as 'having a mindset' - is valid, but I'd argue it's up to all of us, not just (certain) MPs to have a go. Now they are in opposition, it may be easier to have calmer, less argumentative discussions with Labour MPs and others about ID issues. There's certainly bound to be some soul-searching going on amongst the more intelligent/astute ('How did we get so out of touch with what people really thought/wanted?' rather than 'I asked my constituents a biased question to reinforce my belief or PR position on an unpopular policy'). It would be bad/sad if they continued to draw the wrong conclusions.

The idea that NO2ID is 'just' a small but highly effective campaign is merely what defeated ministers have to keep telling themselves, and keep trying to convince others to believe. You could point out to Labour folk that Unison, CWU, Unite (TGWU before the merger), PCS, UCU, NUJ and others including TUC Congress voted to oppose ID cards. Most of them also voted to affiliate to NO2ID - some overwhelmingly, at their national conferences - and some are broadening their commitment to work with us on other database state issues. The 'Labour mindset' clearly had something to do with being in government; we never assumed it was anything to do with being a Labour supporter.

Be magnanimous, not smug. Try to understand what it is they were thinking, and how that might (be) change(d) - but don't expect a proponent to convert into an ID opponent overnight. And don't forget that some will never change their minds. We just want to reach the ones who might, which may include those who now express reservations on which they never acted at the time.

They didn't, at least not as far as ID cards and civil liberties more generally go. It's a sad fact that the majority of people in this country don't much care about these issues and are more than happy to be filed, fingerprinted, logged, monitored and nannied if it will make them feel safer and, of course because they've nothing to hide. We are so lucky that the present government has seen fit to rise above all this and roll back the surveillance state - beacuse hopefully on this occasion they do know best.