NO2ID mourns the passing of Churchill’s stand against compulsory national ID scheme

February 18, 2005 - Press Dispensary - Fifty-three years ago this Monday, Winston Churchill scrapped the compulsory national identity registration scheme, introduced as a wartime measure.

On the anniversary of Churchill's 'bonfire of controls', NO2ID – the umbrella group campaigning against ID cards and the National Identity Register - will hold a symbolic vigil for one hour beside his statue in Parliament Square on Monday 21st February from 11am. The black-clad supporters will mourn the lack of sense that has led to ID cards being reintroduced and the loss of privacy and liberties that they would bring.

NO2ID will be joined at 12pm by Liberty, the civil liberties watchdog, who will conduct a 21st century walkabout via Scotland Yard, the Home Office and Downing Street with a taste of the future - Robocops, with citizen control equipment, and they want to check your ID...

National Coordinator of NO2ID, Phil Booth, said:

'The old man must turn in his grave to think that after all he had done, identity cards, described by the Bow Group as only the preserve of fascist and communist states, are to be reintroduced.'

'If he was here now, he would urge politicians of all parties who truly support freedom to join NO2ID and campaign against them as he did in 1951, under the banner: 'Set the people free!'

NO2ID campaign staff will be available for comment and photo opportunity from 11am, with and without the Terminator-style robocops.

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Notes for editors
NO2ID is the independent, non-partisan campaign against ID cards and the National Identity Register. More information is available at http://www.no2id.net/IDSchemes/bill_brief.php and http://www.no2id.net/IDSchemes/faq.php1212Liberty is the leading UK civil rights and liberties organisation. More information at http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/12

For further information please contact:
Michael Parker, Press Officer
NO2ID
Tel: 0777 3376166
Email:
Site: www.no2id.net