Geoff “Buff” Hoon is criticising the Lords over their refusal to budge on the ID cards Bill. He refers obliquely to the Salisbury convention.
“But it’s always been recognised, indeed said to be a convention of the constitution, that once a government puts into its manifesto a particular proposal, then the House of Lords would not stand in the way of that proposal becoming law.
“That’s one of the problems we have with ID cards. We set that out clearly in the manifesto last May – it was voted for by the British public.”
What this disingenuous wastrel is omitting to mention is that the Salisbury convention was brought about because the government of the day (Clement Attlee’s Labour government of 1945) had a clear mandate from the electorate. To state, as he does, that the British people voted for ID cards and that they have a similar clear mandate is a blatant lie. Only 37% of those who voted; that is, 22% of the electorate, did so for this government. Their “mandate” is a result of a flawed electoral system, not because the British people want identity cards. If he wants to play with the figures; around 60% voted against ID cards. That’s hardly a mandate.
Also, the Lords are simply holding this mendacious regime to its manifesto commitment – that in the first instance the cards (and registration on the NIR) will be voluntary. Hoon is dissembling in the same way as the rancorous thug when he suggests that forcing people renewing passports to register is, by any stretch of imagination and the English language; “voluntary”.
“It seems to me right now that the House of Lords should accept the will of the elected chamber – the House of Commons – and recognise that those people in the House of Commons, elected by a majority, set out in their manifesto that this should become law and now the House of Lords should give way.”
Ultimately, they will have no choice as the bastards will use the Parliament act. But, better to hold out and force them to do that, than give way. Then, at least, the Lords will be giving a clear message: “Not in our name”.
I hope that they ultimately vote down this entire ID card mess and leave it alone.
Unfortunately, that is unlikely. Our government is determined to push this through despite the massive flaws in the proposed system. They would rather fail catastrophically than be seen to change their minds. Something to do with willy sizes, I believe. :whistle: