Eurgh, brain hurts. End of brain dump (in person, at least: there’s at least one topic that still needs to be handed over by email after Andy’s client drinks thing this evening). I now know how to do shedloads of different NS&I things and the M&S affiliates marketing XML feed. In other news, finally someone has realised that the government is desperated suppressing debate of the Identity Cards Bill. And Blair mentioned ID cards at PMQs today. I’ve finally read Winnick’s amendment (search for his name). Basically, it restricts several parts of the Identity Cards Bill (including the introduction of compulsion in clause 6) so that they can only happen during a state of emergency — and only remain in force for a year at a time. Whilst he’s one of our best parliamentary comrades, I don’think it’s all that good an amendment: [1] Part 2 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 isn’t very stringent. [2] Article 15(1) of the ECHR isn’t very stringent either, as we’re already in a state of emergency under 15(1), that’s what ATCSA 2001 invoked in order to suspend habeas corpus . [3] We are currently in a state of emergency (so the amendment would currently provide no restriction) and will be for the foreseeable future (as it dates from immediately after September 11, 2001). [4] We would still incur the costs of building the system, even if it were never gonna become compulsory. [5] This would still allow the worst clauses (the ones enumerated in the first part of the amendment) to be brought in by Statutory Instrument, which is fuck all safeguard. [6] Once compulsion has been introduced — even if for just a year — it’ll be impossible to roll back. If you look back to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts of the 1980s, they were renewed annually quite happily, despite that they were widely recognised as leading to miscarriages of justice, such as the Guildford Four. In some synchronicity, the British Government has finally apologised for the gaoling for the Guildford Four. About fucking time, I say!