Outside the M25
Last week I went to one of the most enjoyable annual events, which is the lunch at Claridges given by the Spectator magazine. A whole series of parliamentary awards are dispensed each year. The great and good of politics, journalism, the City sponsors et al were present. I am flattered to be invited.
On Saturday evening by contrast, I attended a ‘sizzling sausage supper’ in the Hopton branch in my constituency, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. It was very enjoyable. Over the years I have come to realise that as a Member of Parliament you pick up trends in thinking in the constituency about two or three weeks before they are reflected in the polls. Also what may seem hugely important in the Westminster village, does not resonate at all outside. Let me therefore forecast the devastating impact on the Government’s reputation that the lost HMRC discs will cause. People will be appalled that such valuable, sensitive and personal information can be accumulated in this way, and lost. The NHS will soon have all our medical records held centrally! Government departments will be cross checking other personal data, including any criminal records.
The genie is now out of the bottle. There are huge dangers in the state holding such detailed information. It is open to theft and abuse. In the name of efficiency it has all happened. This is a wake up call to all of us who are now invited to give out detailed personal information to a whole series of private and public organisations.
We have to think seriously how we can avoid becoming potential victims of the IT age we live in. Especially when we have a government that is functionally so serially incompetent.