Barcode Nation

Not a joke.
Hat-tip to Home Office Watch from the Liberal Democrats.

Following Saturday’s call to arms that was the Convention on Modern Liberty, the question has been asked, “What next?”
Well in Liverpool, a Lib Dem Councillor has taken matters into his own hands. Tonight Cllr Colin Eldridge is putting a motion to the full Council meeting outlining opposition to the scheme.
“Liverpool City Council [...]

That’s the question posed today by the popular PoliticalBetting.com website, who are covering the Convention on Modern Liberty.
Damn right it will!
With the launch of the Freedom Bill from the Liberal Democrats and a fringe event at today’s Convention looking at where the Conservatives truly position themselves on civil liberties, it seems the opposition parties are [...]

The Liberal Democrats have gone on the offensive with the launch of The Freedom Bill.
The Freedom Bill would restore civil liberties and democratic rights in Britain - and with your help we can make it happen. The Freedom Bill will reverse laws introduced under successive Conservative and Labour governments, reinstating ancient freedoms like the right [...]

There’s an interesting post over at the Expat Focus blog on the experience of British people living in countries where carrying ID is mandatory.
 

Even in EU countries some police officers view it as suspicious and then you have two things going against you - firstly you’re a foreigner and secondly a foreigner without identity! The [...]

The Independent’s Home Affairs correspondent Ben Russell reports the parliamnetary debate on the data sharing clauses in the Coroners and Justice Bill:
But Dominic Grieve, the shadow Justice Secretary, said the plans would “drive a coach and horses through the traditional relationship between the state and individuals” to serve a “nebulous case of public good”. He [...]

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has announced his party’s new Commission on Privacy, involving such champions of civil liberties as Shami Chakrabarti and Henry Porter.
“With Britain now among the most watched upon countries in Europe, there has never been a more vital time for proper scrutiny and protection of privacy.
“Under this increasingly authoritarian Government, a [...]

In my post yesterday looking at betting odds for the date of the next general election, I hinted that a change of government could be a positive step for civil liberties campaigners.
 
I’ve now stumbled across this excellent piece from the ever impressive James Graham. He questions where the Conservatives will go with Human Rights if [...]

Police have used anti-terrorism legislation to stop more than 60,000 people near railway lines between October 2007 and September 2008.
 
The figures, unveiled by the Liberal Democrats, show that a further 60,000 people were stopped using stop-and-search powers.

 
There is a wide interest in railways in this country and to stop someone simply for taking a photograph [...]

The Liberal Democrats have uncovered figures that show nearly 50,000 Government security passes have been lost or stolen since 2001 - that’s 16 per day. Over 37,000 of these were from the Ministry of Defence.
A MoD spokesman said: “There are approximately 108,000 personnel in the Armed Forces and the number of lost/stolen ID cards for [...]