It is now an archive for my newspaper and magazine pieces. My blog can now be read at: www.spectator.co.uk/stephenpollard
Politics, economics and culture from the master. Unmissable.
Melanie Phillips home page
Melanie Phillips' peerless blog. Read, and learn.
Daniel Finkelstein's Times Comment Central
A daily must-read.
Tim Worstall
Lots of interesting nibbles - and a ruthless swatter of economic gibberish.
Harry's Place
Must-read left of centre blog from writers who understand the threat to the West.
Clive Davis
Always interesting selection of culture and politics, from an Anglo-American bent.
Samizdata
Libertarian blog, packed every day.
Norm's blog
The thoroughly sensible thoughts of renowned left-wing academic Norman Geras, Professor of Government at Manchester. And cricket, too.
Public Interest
Peter Briffa's inimitable take on The Yazzmonster and other assorted demons.
Reform
The public sector reform group; their website is an invaluable source of data and ideas.
Centre for the New Europe
The leading European public policy think tank.
Developed by:
| February | 05 |
| 2007 |
Here's something one doesn't often see: principles and politics coming together for the right reasons, for the right cause.
Iain Dale reports that David Davis has written to the Cabinet Secretary:
I am writing to you in relation to the Government's planned roll out of its national identity card scheme, commencing this year. You will be aware that there is a longstanding convention that one Parliament may not bind a subsequent Parliament.As you will also be aware, the Conservative Party has stated publicly that it is our intention to cancel the ID cards project immediately on our being elected to government. You are now formally on notice of our position and fully appraised of the contingent risks and associated liabilities arising from the national identity card scheme.In light of these risks, I urge you to consider very carefully the government's position, in advance of the roll-out of the scheme later this year. As a matter of financial prudence, it is incumbent upon you to ensure that public money is not wasted, and contractual obligations are not incurred, investing in a scheme with such a high risk of not being implemented. In particular, I would be interested to know what provision, if any has, been made in the relevant contractual arrangements to protect the Government - and public funds - against the costs that would be incurred as a result of early cancellation of the scheme.
So at one and the same time, he has reiterated the Conservative Party's stance in favour of individual liberty versus the state; he has undermined the chances of ID cards being successfully introduced under Labour by indicating that he might, as Home Secretary, overturn contracts with commercial organisations, thus introducing a crucial new element of risk; he has helped the Conservative Party in its key task of drawing in potential LibDem voters; and he has given the Conservative troops a morale boost by sticking to core principles.
MessageSpace
David Davis is of course correct, "one Parliament may not bind a subsequent Parliament".
However, any contract entered into with 3rd parties, is on behalf of the CROWN and not government in parliament.
Its this sort of woolly thinking that got us into the European Union.
For god sake when will the conservative party ever learn.
Perhaps he needs to read a copy of the EC Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations
Article 17 - No retrospective effect.
Maybe DD is considering a windfall tax on providers of egregious crap to government. I can't recall the exact details but didn't Gordo effetively impose a windfall tax on North Sea oil companies by changing the tax rules mid-stream? This way - and I'm not recommending the practice - he can avoid the Convention's strictures.
Anyway, DD interestingly makes no mention of pulling the plug on the underlying grand database being set up as we speak. Carrying ID cards is offensive in itself but, so what, if all your details are freely available to any oik - or politician - with access to the government's computers.
Really good point U. But aren't you undermining Stephen's observations?
Jeremycj
If I have made a pertinent comment then perhaps I am undermining Stephen's observations: I certainly disagree with the statement that "[DD] has given the Conservative troops a morale boost by sticking to core principles". The core principle is NOT that being forced to carry ID cards is uniquely appalling but that the "opposition" should not acquiesce in the government's policy of creating one grand database with every detail of our lives on it. I read in one of the other blogs that perhaps the only way to stop this once and for all is to physically destroy the records: perhaps a less destructive way would be to maintain the various "official" records (Census, NHS, DVLA, HMR&C etc) in totally incompatible formats.