Tom Griffin (London, OK): Inquest has today welcomed the inclusion of the Coroners and Justice Bill in the Queens Speech as an opportunity for a long overdue reform of the inquest system. However, it looks as if that prospect may be tainted by a nasty sting in the tail of the legislation.
According to NO2ID National Director Phil Booth, the bill contains broad new data-sharing powers that could be used to sweep away existing legal protections.
Rather than protecting our personal information, as it should be, the government is cutting away safeguards for its own data-trafficking convenience. This is a Bill to smash the rule of law and build the database state in its place. Burying sweeping constitutional change in obscure Bills is an appalling approach. Having proved - and admitted - they cannot be trusted to look after our secrets, they are still determined to steal what privacy we have left. Parliament needs to wake up before it has no say any more."
As Phil notes, NO2ID are not alone in accusing the Government of underhand tactics. Liberty's Shami Chakrabarti suggests the Immigration and Citizenship Bill could be used to allow officials to demand papers from anyone who has ever left the country:
Sneaking in compulsory identity cards via the back door of immigration law is a cynical escalation of this expensive and intrusive scheme.
In times of economic hardship, it’s good to see a bit less home office legislation but what there is leaves a lot to be desired.
