On 28th September 2006 a full meeting of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council passed the anti ID card motion, below, by an overwhelming majority. No-one spoke against.
The council is an interesting mix of independent councillors, sharing power with the Liberal Democrats, some Tories and a few Labour councillors:
http://www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/site/ ... iewBy=name
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This Council notes:
The recent Government Act introducing compulsory ID cards to the UK
This Council believes:
That the disadvantages of such a scheme will outweigh any benefits to the people of the Staffordshire Moorlands.
That the cards will do almost nothing to prevent terrorism, crime or fraud.
That the national database, which this Council will have to administer, underpinning the identity card scheme may facilitate criminal fraud, terrorism and potential state abuses of human rights. that the ID card and data base proposals are likely to fundamentally alter the relationship between the state and the individual.
According to Government estimates, the cost of such a scheme could reach £6billion, with independent commentators predicting substantially higher costs. The residents of Staffordshire Moorlands will be required to pay an estimated £30 for a stand alone ID card or £93 for a passport and ID card together.
This Council therefore resolves to:
Take no part in any pilot scheme or feasibility work in relation to the introduction of the national identity cards; make it a policy of the Council to ensure that national identity cards would not be required to access council services or benefits unless specifically called to do so by an Act of Parliament; only co-operate with the national identity card scheme where to do otherwise would be unlawful; instruct the Chief Executive to a) write to the Home Secretary expressing these views and b) write to our MP’s asking them, to support this Council’s position on ID cards.
