Neither side of the row over Universal ID cards is free of contradiction, neither has a monopoly on logic or morality. The pros are (depressingly) allowing narrow political contingency to shape legislation that will inevitably compromise important freedoms. The antis are (predictably) overstating the fragility of the mess of historic accident and random mutation we call a constitution. I’m pretty sure that the deep waters of British legal and constitutional custom will swallow up entitlement cards with barely a ripple. That doesn’t mean I like the idea. It’s an ugly, compromised piece of constitutional vandalism and should be stopped. Happily, the cheeky cyber-gerrymanderers at STAND have set up an easy way for you to submit your comments to Lord Falconer’s Home Office consultation. Get over there and make your voice heard.
In which I try, after 25 years of blogging, to drop my ironic stance a bit.