Tag Archives: michael wills

Individual electoral registration: consultation response

Here’s the response I’ve sent to the Electoral Registration Transformation Programme ([email protected]) in response to the consultation on the draft legislation for individual electoral registration, which closes on 14 October. For the background on the benefits of individual electoral registration, see What’s the point of switching to individual electoral registration?

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft legislation which has been published to implement individual electoral registration in Great Britain. The publication of a full draft for public consultation is a very welcome improvement on the way …

Posted in Election law | Also tagged , and | 16 Comments

The database state and the true cost of Labour’s free lunches

During the Unlock Democracy debate at the Convention on Modern Liberty last month, Justice Minister Michael Wills defended the growth of the database state by arguing:

“We’ve heard a lot of about datasharing today. But that datasharing, that so many here today say is an unacceptable intrusion of privacy by the state, can actually help thousands and thousands of children who are eligible for free school meals but don’t get them at the moment… Look, it’s all very well for you to sit here. You’ve probably all had a hot meal in the last week. One

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Posted in Big mad database and Op-eds | Also tagged , , , , and | 7 Comments

Lib Dems help force Labour data sharing U-turn

A big well done to Lib Dem MP Adrian Sanders for what his blog calls his “little victory” in helping to force the Government to drop proposals which would have allowed people’s details to be shared between organisations. The BBC reports:

The Lib Dems said plans for secret inquests in England and Wales were “misguided” and they would continue to oppose any moves which “undermined” the jury system. … They would have allowed ministers to apply for orders to remove data protection restrictions preventing the use of information for secondary purposes in certain circumstances.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw had argued

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Posted in News | Also tagged , and | 4 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • expats
    For those in favour of the status quo.. How will the increasing spending on the triple lock be paid for in the long term? The two parties most vociferous in it...
  • Chloe
    Let's get away from the myth of DLR driverless trains..There's a qualified driver in the cab at all times who takes control when the computer makes a demand. Th...
  • Dan Carr
    I commend you Christian for noting what you personally plan to do rather than calling for government regulation to enforce the maintenance of your preferences. ...
  • Jack Meredith
    @Matt (Bristol( WOW, you literally did call it!...
  • PM
    @ Mick, We agree that the triple lock should be maintained . We disagree that the burden should fall mainly on the younger generation. This is what your " w...