Robinson helps launch 'No 2 ID - Chelmsford'

8.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 13th May 2007

"Chelmsford No 2 ID" group launched at site of new interrogation centre, as Government announces another massive jump in database scheme costs. Chelmsford Liberal Democrat Stephen Robinson joined campaigners from other parties and none to launch the Chelmsford branch of the national campaign group on Wednesday 9 May. The first step in creating a massive national database of all your personal details is compulsory interviews for new passports, followed by all those renewing their passport.

This development follows hot on the heels of a massive price hike in passport costs, to help pay for this database. People from across Essex will have to come to Chelmsford for their interview, at a new interrogation centre in Rosebery House, 41 Springfield Road. So campaigners chose that as the location for their campaign launch.

Stephen and the other campaigners wore "No 2 ID" masks - "I am a name, not a number" they said.

Also this week, the Government slipped out an announcement that the official costs of the ID database have risen by £400 million in the last six months, taking the official cost of the scheme to £5.31 billion. The report was released a whole month after the legally-required deadline - on the day that Tony Blair announced his resignation, so that people would not notice.

The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of breaking the law over its decision to postpone the release of the report. "This shows the depths of cynicism and media manipulation to which ministers are now resorting to ram through this increasingly unpopular scheme" - Nick Clegg MP, Shadow Home Secretary.

The campaign launch followed a successful meeting on 29th March with the General Secretary of the No2ID campaign. See link below.

By not voting NO on all occasions, the Conservatives allowed the Labour party to effectively make ID cards compulsory if you want to travel abroad. See link below.

For more about the Lib Dem campaign against ID Cards and to sign the petition, see link below.

Related Links:

Report from the 29 March meeting.

See the report of the launch in Essex Chronicle.

The Lib Dem campaign and petition against ID cards.

The national No 2 ID campaign.

How the Conservatives let ID cards become compulsory.

Email the Chelmsford No 2 ID organiser Felicity Mawson .

Read Felicity Mawson's letter to the Chronicle from 22 March 2007.