Pilots say they will not co-operate with "demeaning" ID cards (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Pilots say they will not co-operate with "demeaning" ID cards

February 17, 2009 11:21 AM

Airline pilots refuse to become guinea pigs for Labour's ID cards

The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) has rejected Government plans to use pilots as guinea pigs for its ID cards scheme, saying: "Promises that ID cards would be voluntary have been broken." Thousands of flights could be cancelled without warning if this dispute between pilots and the Government is allowed to fester.

In a submission to the Government's consultation on ID cards, BALPA said: "ID cards have absolutely no value as far as security is concerned. This is nothing but coercion. It is clear that the government's staged introduction of biometric identity cards first to overseas students, then to migrant workers and then for aviation workers represents a way of picking off what is seen as easy or compliant targets."

BALPA also asks: "What happens when the first airport worker refuses to register for an ID card? Our understanding from the draft regulations is that the individual will be out of a job. This could be an individual who has served his or her country as a Service pilot being told they are not now trusted. This is both unacceptable and demeaning and we will resist."

BALPA sent the management of Manchester airport and London City airport a copy of their submission. These airports are the first two chosen by the Government for trials of ID cards on airside workers - however they have been warned that pilots will not co-operate.

Alan Armitage, Lib Dem spokesman for Wantage and Didcot, said: "This is the first serious obstacle to the government's strategy of introducing ID cards piecemeal. There will be many others. They hoped nobody would make too much of a fuss if they picked off one group after another, but this is clearly not going to work. The ID card scheme should be abandoned now, and the money saved put to better use fighting crime where it really matters."

You can sign join the Lib Dems' campaign to stop ID cards by visiting http://www.libdems.org.uk/noidcards/ and signing up.