Pilots make unhappy guinea pigs

The Independent reports that airline pilots may strike rather than be forced to accept a voluntary ID Card.

The article also highlights airline resistance to the scheme; the British Air Transport Association, which represents British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and others, summed up the scheme as a ‘dubious PR initiative by the Government and one that fails to offer any real benefits’.

The Identity and Passport Service were quick to provide this retort, lacking explanation and potentially contradictory:

Identity cards will directly benefit airside workers – not just by improving personnel security, but also by speeding up pre-employment checks and increasing the efficiency of pass-issuing arrangements.

So forcing the card on airside workers will apparently:

1. Improve Personnel Security - As I noted previously these guinea pigs already go through a more stringent security check before they are cleared for working airside. If you’ve got any sort of criminal record you’re a no-go as far as getting a pass is concerned. This does not apply of course if you are a foreign terrorist. You might think tightening that up would be more of a priority.
2. Speed up pre-employment checks - the only way I could see this speeding up pre-employment checks is if you ignore the time it takes to get an ID Card when applying to work airside. But these workers will have to go through the process in addition to current checks, making this a nonsense. The only way this statement can be true is if the ID Card replaces part of the current checks, which (given it requires a less stringent character assessment) would surely reduce security (see point 1)?
3. Make it easier to have a pass reissued - I thought we were improving security (point 1), not making it easier to get a pass airside?

At best, the quote is just nonsense, not argument.

This is becoming increasingly frustrating. Setting the arguments about personal liberty aside, money is being spent every day on putting this scheme in place. Given the likelihood of a Conservative victory at the next general election the scheme seems doomed. This begs the question: who would bid to work on a doomed scheme? I can’t help but worry that any company with any sense would want considerable security in their contract, burdening the country with some of the costs of the scheme even if the Tories bring it to an end. Labour need to drop it now, to do otherwise is the height of irresponsibility.

In related news, the Identity & Passport Service says there will be an additional cost of £29 to the individual on top of the £30 they’d already admitted to. Why has the price doubled? A shocking revelation: the cards will have biometric details on them. I thought that was the whole point, but it apparently hadn’t been costed. The Home Office are keen to stress the cost is an estimate - in such circumstances one suspects that means it’s a conservative one.

In an increasingly tight economic climate, why is Labour still pushing a fixed tax that will hit the poor hard for no real benefit? Is the Party really so far removed from the electorate and its founding principles? How has it got here?

Answers on a postcard (or in the comments box).