High Street biometrics

Becoming increasingly embarassed by the mounting costs of implementing the ID card scheme, that pathetically useless Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith - whose only credentials are the ability to mindlessly invoke repressive legislation at the behest of her controlling masters with unremitting efficiency - is to announce today the passing of the responsibilty for the gathering of biometrics from a national network of public enrolment centres to the private sector.

Now chemists, post offices and photographic shops are to undertake the government’s dirty business with Smith lacing her words in such a way as to imply it as a commercially attractive proposition for such high street chains because of the need for anyone wishing to update their passport being forced to visit them in order to get their necessary biometric data recorded. "While private companies will clearly benefit from the increased footfall from offering this service, their customers will benefit from being able to quickly provide their biometrics while they are out doing their shopping," said Smith.

Just how low can they go!

Having put American radio host Michael Savage on the list of those banned from entering the UK which was published by the Home Office yesterday, Smith may get her come-uppance as Savage is considering taking legal action against her for placing him on a no-entry list along with known terrorists, racist groups and ‘violent skinheads’. In Smith’s words - or those of her puppeteer - “someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country.”

Savage’s claim to notoriety is his fervent advocacy of patriotic traditional values - borders, language and culture. Although I have never listened to his show as it is not even syndicated in this country - which is hardly surprising as our national radio is largely deplorable, controlled by government dictat disallowing any real alternative debate - the banning of free speech, whether or not it might upset certain people, is the mark of political control akin to that of a Soviet Commissar which rather nicely sums up my impression of Mrs Smith.