Vote went 385 in favour 93 against and many abstentions.
edit: Boris was one of the ones who abstained and I have the impression that he will explain more fully on Thursday.
TO COME:
– Boris column on Thursday am
– Christmas message/opinions/views/contemplations: from M Steyn and political correctness to apocalyptic thoughts in The Economist to Yuletide Fun in Private Eye to Biblical Advent reflections
Ah the abstention. What an utter shame, and somewhat disappointing, but what can you expect from a political system where a truly free vote is a rarity. It’s a shame that Boris couldn
I’m wondering: should Boris Johnson do the queens speech on the 25th.? Or should we leave it to Elton John?
I’d have thought the least Boris could do would bve to vote against ID cards. Michael Howard consistently ignores opportunities to regain Tory votes. I wonder how many has he now lost to the LibDems and UKIP. Labour must be laughing all the way to the next election.
What a disappointment – I didn’t expect you to take the cowardly route Boris. You are following your leader down a rabbit hole …
I’m curious to know why the fact that he abstained was advertised on here. Perhaps it’s a show of transparency; perhaps it was inevitable people would find out. Perhaps it wasn’t thought a big deal…
Pressure? What pressure? It’s one thing to admit you abstained, but it’s meaningless unless you explain why. Who turned the screw, Boris? Was it the Sixth Form Prefect telling you to buck up and play the game? Or did somebody make a more sinister offer you couldn’t refuse?
My lord, I despair of politicians. Just when I was starting to think double-dealing and self-interest were the exclusive property of the Labour Party.
What on EARTH do we have to do to get people in Westminster who’ll stand by their principles?
Simon,
Well Hansard would publish the voting results in a few weeks, and the Guardian listed those who voted against from both sides. So I mailed our dear Melissa to confirm what Boris did.
Perhaps that prompted the entry. Whatever prompted it I’m glad there’s someone to hang thoughts on this issue off.
*sigh*
I’m sorry that our politicians do not have the sense or convictions to listen to the electorate on this important issue rather than a braying press.
ID cards will do nothing to stop a terrorist attack as recent Al Qaeda and ETA attacks in Spain have shown. These arguments, however, have been greatly expanded on elsewhere, and sadly ignored by our representatives.
gwelaf:
“I wonder how many has he now lost to the LibDems and UKIP”
That’s a good point, gwelaf. But I feel bound to add that anyone who votes for the Lib-Dems because of this issue is breathtakingly naive to say the least. As a perceptive letter writer pointed out in the DT today, neither Mr Blair’s nor Mr Howard’s assurances on how the cards will be used are worth anything, because, at the end of the day, it will be the EU that decides how they are used and for what.
And when one bears in mind that the Lib-Dems are the most abjectly supine of all the parties when it comes to “Europe” … well, the moral doesn’t need to be drawn.
I noticed that the original mockups of the ID card had the EU symbol on them, but the latest one i saw didn’t. I’d like to know what has gone on behind the scenes. I wonder if ID cards will be an explicit EU requirement soon, and the government has been told to bring them in. They’d never admit that openly if it were so.
Even if not, it’s the EU that will say how they’re used in the end; so I think people should forget any of the fairytales Kennedy is telling. I’d sooner trust a grass-snake.
Another way of looking at it would be that the abstainees are keeping their powder dry for a later showdown over the issue.
Thanks for youyr comment Michael but if the agenda is really EU driven (like so much including as some one has suggested our recent Army reforms) then it would seem the votes will go to UKIP.
Hardly a day seem to pass by without this odious mendacious government further destroying our freedoms. It’s almost as if, having been forced to accept market economics during the Thatcher era, Labour (with a load of former Commies in the cabinet) are now engaged in some massive displacement activity, namely the disestablishment of Britain and more particularly England. They seem to be amongst the most self-hating people in the world.
I’m very dissapointed boris only abstained.
You abstain for two reasons:
You genuinely cant decide on the issue
or
You are doing what the party boss told you to do.
As Ir ecall, Boris is elected by the voters, and they can easily de-elect him next time.
Its truly pathetic to see a politician like Boris tow the party line rather than follow his own thoughts and convictions. Looks like we can relegate him to the status of mindless lobby fodder.
I’m very dissapointed boris only abstained.
You abstain for two reasons:
You genuinely cant decide on the issue
or
You are doing what the party boss told you to do.
As Ir ecall, Boris is elected by the voters, and they can easily de-elect him next time.
Its truly pathetic to see a politician like Boris tow the party line rather than follow his own thoughts and convictions. Looks like we can relegate him to the status of mindless lobby fodder.
Melissa: Apropos of nothing, but who actually employs an MP’s support staff?
Are you directly employed by Boris, or is there a central pool of parliamentary staff hoping they don’t end up with Ian Paisley?
ho hum …I can understand why Boris abstained , although it does seem unusual for him not have an opinion on something.Perhaps someone would be so kind as to explain exactly what the big hoo ha is abover this ID card issue. I can’t really see how you’re supposed to catch terrorists if everyone has an ID card and yet why do people really care if you have to have one or not , I come from a country where you’re required to have one and given the current levels of crime and violence there whether or not you have ID card makes no difference whatsoever…its just more convenient than carrying around a passport for identification. Sounds like a poor excuse for job creation , can you imagine the cost and admin nightmare of organising this whole project?
I think therefore I am? Is that enough ego and ID for the goverment?
question is do they actually think ?
ABSTAINED! YOU ABSTAINED!! Good grief Boris what hope is there left! Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re huge! Have you looked at your blog site and fansite? Your popularity is huge – you’re huge! Have you looked at the opposition? It’s crap! Just because Howard is loosing ground doesn’t mean you have to. And what’s all this about keeping your powder dry? Oh per-lease.
If you let your father tell you what to do I’d understand. He’s formiddable, intelligent and difficult to argue with (though I’ve had a go). But Howard? Man, who is a coward to the backbone would fight for an idea like a hero. However stupid the idea? And the rest of you sit idly by?
I’m so dissapointed I can’t put anything coherent into words. Where have all the good men gone? I’m just so dissapointed.
So once we have these ID Cards, I’ll be producing St. George and Union Jack stickers to go over whatever other emblem may be there (especially if the EU flag). I’ll accept early orders now?
ROTFL, Aaron.
But seriously, who cares what the emblem is? The question is: who gets to say what is done with the information? And when there is a “hard case” who decides? IOW, as Carl Schmitt put it: “Sovereign is he who decides the challenge of the exception.”
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22carl+schmitt%22+sovereign+exception&btnG=Search
The way things are going, ‘he” won’t be in the UK, nor will “he” be responsive to the opinions of the electorate.
As I remarked on the army reforms, “he” might also be dispatching the Euro rapid-reaction force wherever he pleases in accordance with goodness knows what criteria. Worries me. There’s always a flashpoint somewhere .. or a pocketful of diamonds for M. Chirac. 🙂
Bokassa gave him some, IIRC. And isn’t Bokassa the guy who kept human bodyparts in his freezer. WTF. I just think that Anglo-Saxon civilization and the Common Law weren’t so bad.
http://www.alanmacfarlane.com/law/index.html
Euro-enthusaists would bin all that, and for what? *They* don’t even know. For a few metaphors – “missed trains” and what not. The standard of political debate in this country makes you want to weep. 🙂
Scaryduck
Each MP actually chooses his/her own staff and I applied to work for Boris at quite an early stage – for new blood – and never a dull moment!
I’ll also be selling ID Card Destructor Kits, consisting of an iron rod, a length of wire, and a 9 volt battery.
‘So once we have these ID Cards, I’ll be producing St. George and Union Jack stickers to go over whatever other emblem may be there (especially if the EU flag). I’ll accept early orders now?’
I so love the EU flag: leave it alone Aaron!
My MP Didn’t vote !!! Why not ?
Boris Johnson ought to give a month’s salary to the Police Benevolent Society for this ( from all his jobs )
MPs should attend the debate and vote. That
I cant understand how Micheal Howard is still leader of the tories. Why havent you replaced him yet Boris? Cant you get a move on?! Mr Howard may be Welsh but I’ve never seen such a shambles! I have this problem with men who smirk constantly whilst on TV, and have you ever seen Mr Howard without his inane grin whilst he’s being interviewed. He makes me so frustrated! We need you Boris, stop wasting time, rise up from the shame that is the conservative party, form Boris United and take power in our country, where you will rule with an iron hand and we will follow our glorious leader. With you as our PM, terrorists will quake before thinking of attacking us, the French will crumble and be humbled, and I expect the queen would be eternally grateful, and will shower you with gold. Out with Howard, in with Boris! Never before has there been such a true, upright, honest, just and worthy man as Boris Johnson, surely he should be our noble leader, surely he should reign supreme over the Brits’ – the best leader for the best country I say. We need you Boris. Save us from the fate towatrds which we are heading.