Conservative candidates reply to ID cards letter

In April I wrote to all 10 candidates in the William Morris ward of Waltham Forest Council in the local elections to ask about their attitude to ID cards. These are the replies of the Conservative candidates:

1. Tim James

Thank you so much for your letter dated 9th April with regard to the local elections and the wider issue of Identity Cards.

I can confirm without hesitation that I am utterly opposed to the introduction of ID cards both personally and politically. David Cameron reiterated the parties hostility to such measures only recently.

I am also concerned that even at proposal stage we witness yet again this willingness to chip away at our civil liberties and freedoms.

Financially - this is yet another burden that will have to be endured by households across the nation, many of whom are already struggling with personal debt which have arisen by trying to meet the shortfalls in their expenditures due to the massive programme of taxation imposed over the past 10 years to pay for this Governments extravagant and alas often wasteful public spending. (An issue mirrored by local government)

Finally, there is no evidence to suggest that these would make our streets safer. ID cards and CCTV cameras are no substitute for police on the street. Crime has become a serious issue over recent years. The Government's response to this has been to downgrade the classification of cannabis, legalise prostitution for women working from home and to extend licencing hours. Needless to say crime has soared. Last July and August serious assault and muggings DOUBLED in Waltham Forest (Data supplied by the Metropolitan Police for Greater London)

I hope this clarifies my position and helps you to come to a decision for the local elections on May 4th. However you decide I know that we are all hoping to make this Borough a better, safer and cleaner place to live without having to bankrupt it's residents with taxes.

Best regards,

Tim James

2. Ian Drury

Thank you for your letter.

I rejoined the Conservative Party the day after the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, announced that ID cards would be introduced, and on an effectively compulsory basis. I oppose ID cards on principle: this is an unacceptable extension of state power and a potential instrument of tyranny.

I would support such a motion as you describe in your letter and if elected, will press for a similar motion to be adopted here.

Kind Regards,
Ian Drury

3. Emily Garrett

Thank you for your recent letter asking for my views on the identity cards bill.

The Conservative party both nationally and in Waltham Forest strongly oppose the introduction of compulsory identity cards as we consider it to be an infringement of civil liberties.

Personally I am also against the introduction of compulsory identity cards for the reason stated above and because I consider it to be an unreasonable financial burden on individuals and do not believe that it is a sensible solution for the problems it is meant to be intended to solve. (i.e. terrorism, crime, identity theft and fraud.)

I would therefore strongly support any motion such as the one cited in your letter should I become a Councillor in Waltham Forest.

I hope this answers your question, but if you would like to ask anything else please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Emily Garrett

So clearly the local Conservative candidates oppose the ID cards legislation. I wish David Cameron would explain, however, why he felt it necessary to compromise on the legislation so that Conservative MPs voted in favour of the introduction of the compulsory database for passport applications combined with an optional ID card - a compromise that is completely worthless. I hope the Conservatives opposition is not going to be tempered should they win office again. That unnecessary compromise raises questiuons in my mind.