‘I loathe the idea on principle. I never want to be commanded, by any emanation of the British state, to produce evidence of my identity.’
From the ‘personal notes’ on Boris Johnson’s website, February 2005
‘There is the loss of liberty, and the creepy reality that the state will use these cards — doubtless with the best possible intentions — to store all manner of detail about us, our habits, what benefits we may claim, and so on.’
Daily Telegraph, November 2004
‘The government would love to put issues such as these beyond the bounds of debate by creating an air of national emergency. As far as the Prime Minister is concerned, Britain is at war: with terrorists, muggers and fraudsters. Therefore exceptional measures are required and anyone questioning them is guilty of putting national security at risk. We do not share this analysis. We live in peacetime, and therefore the normal considerations of liberty apply.’
Leading article in The Spectator under Johnson’s editorship, November 2004
‘Boris has always been opposed to ID cards and now the party is fully with him on this; and what with the Lib Dems on board and Labour’s majority reduced, the result should be tight.’
Announcement on Boris Johnson’s website, June 2005
‘[ID cards are] recipes not just for waste but recipes for tyranny and oppression as well… I urge you all, by your votes at this forthcoming mayoral election, to show your displeasure at such a misconceived scheme and to give the government that has conceived it and the mayor that supports it the kick in the pants they so deserve.’
On the need to defy governments who propose ID cards (London campaign trail), May 2004
‘I will take that card out of my wallet and physically eat it in the presence of whatever emanation of the state has demanded that I produce it.
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