ID card meeting is not a public one (From Swindon Advertiser)

ID card meeting is not a public one

10:21am Thursday 6th September 2007 in Letters

Barrie Hudson's article, This whole thing is Idiotic, September 1) is mistaken in thinking that our MP, Anne Snelgrove is holding a public meeting about ID cards at Liden Community Centre on September 20.

I telephoned to book a place and was told that, due to the restricted size of the venue, there are only 40 seats available and invitations for that number have already been sent out.

I am now on the reserve list in case there are any cancellations.

This morning I received a letter from Mrs Snelgrove. She said..."the listening panel is not a public meeting...", adding that ..."the decision to introduce ID cards has already been taken by Parliament and I am holding the listening panel to share information and reaction to the scheme with a Government Minister."

It would seem that she regards the imposition of a national register of the population as done and dusted, which makes me wonder if this meeting is just a PR exercise.

Otherwise, why book a venue with such a restricted capacity?

B Jones.

Old Town, Swindon