|
Written by Austin Mitchell
|
|
04 July 2005 |
|
The ID Cards Bill is one of those things that are easy to rush into but which get disastrous later. The crucial issue is cost. Government estimates are low at the moment. They know that the higher the charge the more public opinion will turn against it.
But the estimates are wrong. A team of professors at the LSE put the costs as high as £19 billion (incidentally, the cost of repairing and renovating every council house in the country. As with all government contracts the final cost will, of course, be much higher.
Which makes me think that this is something more than just another folly like the Dome. The costs escalate and the problems become massive at two points. At four years the costs of supplying IDs to all passport renewals, driving license applicants and others turn big. At eight when cards finally become compulsory, bill turns massive.
Those are the times when Gordon Brown will be trying to lead us to our fourth and fifth victories. Doesn`t Tony want Gordon to win?
The Government is rightly nervous about the prospects for the ID Bill. Potential rebels were phoned through the weekend. By Monday the story was let it through and the government will make concessions. Tuesday it was pass it and it will dribble into the sand.
I abstained but I don`t believe either. This is the kind of measure which once it has a second reading is home and hosed. Only the Lords can stop it now.
The worst part of the ID Cards mess is the power it gives to jumped-up job`s worths. Mitchell`s Law of Authority says it will always chuck itself around. So don`t give it any vague omnipurpose powers to let it do so.
Asking for ID Cards is one such. It will be like the old Sus Law. Guess who`s going to be harassed by being asked for ID by anyone in uniform. Not respectable middle-aged men in suits. Blacks, the poor, the odd, the angry, the hip, the young and the ethnic.
The only consolation is that thanks to the huge cost of the Cards we won`t be able to pay for quite so many police to do the asking.
Everyone predicted a more difficult life for the government after the election. In fact it`s becoming an Indian Summer. The Tories all standing for the leadership. Everyone agrees with Tony on Europe. The Liberals are all over the place. The New Chums have deadened dissent. This could go on until January. It will have to because I imagine Tony will be out of the country most of the time until then. Absence may make the heart grow fonder.
In the Health Debate I saw a bloke speaking from the Dispatch Box as a Minister I`ve never seen before. Looks like a schoolboy except for the fact that he`s totally bald.
Turns out he was Liam Byrne. Elected at a by-election last year he`s had a meteoric rise. Promotion in under a year. We really are a career open to talent in New Labour. Provided you`ve worked for Tony, Gordon or Patricia Hewitt. Anyone else has to wait a few years longer. Twenty eight in my case but I`m hanging on in hope. |
