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Unionists in new ID card uproar over removal of Union flag
Friday, 31 July 2009
Home Secretary Alan Johnson reveals the design at St Pancras Station of the National Identity Card card which is to be issued to members of the public for the first time later this year
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Unionists reacted with fury last night at the Government’s decision to leave the Union flag off the new ID cards for fear of upsetting nationalists in Northern Ireland.
While the red, white and blue symbol was deliberately not included in an attempt to “recognise the identity rights” of everyone in the province, the design does include a shamrock.
That is little more than “political correctness gone mad”, unionist politicians claimed as they warned it meant even fewer people in Northern Ireland were now likely to sign up for the voluntary scheme.
David Simpson, DUP Upper Bann MP, said: “It’s a prime example of political correctness gone mad and the weak grip on reality that this Government seems to possess.
“In a week when it emerged the Government was trying to prevent compensation payments to injured British soldiers we now learn that it intends to remove our national flag from ID cards.
“Regardless of the feelings or sensitivities of nationalists in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, the Union flag of this country should be displayed on our national ID card.”
Ulster Unionist Lord Maginnis said: “What a muddle-headed, silly government this is. It’s pathetic. I’m certainly not going to volunteer for an ID that compromises my Britishness.”
The Government took the decision after an impact assessment set out that the cards must recognise the “identity rights” of the people of Northern Ireland.
It stated: “While some symbols have been included within the card’s design to indicate the document has been issued by the UK Government, we have sought to design features which could reflect all parts of the United Kingdom, such as the inclusion of the shamrock to represent Northern Ireland within the tactile features, and we have sought to avoid symbols such as flags.”
The DUP has long-opposed the ID card scheme arguing it would do little to stop terrorism but the latest development means it has even less chance of being taken up, it claimed. And Gregory Campbell, the party’s East Londonderry MP, said incorporating the shamrock for Northern Ireland, along with the rose for England, Scottish thistle and Welsh daffodil exposed the Government’s incompetence at dealing with identity issues.
“The Union flag is made up from the flags of St Andrew, St George and St Patrick,” he added. “Incorporating the flag should not give anyone offence.
“Instead they have compounded the problem by using symbols that don’t represent the people of Northern Ireland. The decision will simply ensure the number of people that take this up will probably fall to zero.”
The design was unveiled yesterday by Home Secretary Alan Johnson who insisted the card was a “safe and secure” way of proving identity and would help combat identity fraud.
On the front of each card is the holder's name, picture, date of birth, sex and signature. Like the UK passport, it also displays nationality, where it was issued and when it expires.
A chip embedded in the back of the card holds a digital image of the holder's face and two fingerprints.
The cards will be made available across the north-west of England early next year and across the country in 2011-12 but will only be compulsory for foreign nationals after a Government climbdown.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, residents of Northern Ireland can identify as either Irish, British or of dual nationality.
If they opt for Irish nationality they will have access to an “Identification Card” available to European Nationals living in the UK.
The Tories have pledged to scrap the cards if they win the next election.
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Comments
130 Comments
To all those here suggesting a new official regional flag for Northern Ireland then here is my design proposal:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_northern_ireland_flag.svg
It is very similar both in terms of colour to the tourist board logo, and likewise includes a hexagon (a symbol also already used by many NI government departments). It also incorporates a St. Patrick's Cross (I don't think a St. Patrick's Cross can be used alone as a NI flag because St. Patrick's Cross is an all-Ireland flag).
Maybe the Bele Tele can do some sort of feature highlighting possible designs like this?
Posted by Paul | 23.08.09, 03:07 GMT
France has its Tri-colour flag , Russia has its flag, do these countries refrain from using their national flag on their official identity documents so as not to offend over sensitive ethnic minorites,the answer is no.
I would say, accept the culture and symbols of the country that you live in .
Posted by Stevie | 01.08.09, 14:35 GMT
No Union Flag on the ID card incase it offends Irish Nationalists living in Northern Ireland , part of the United Kingdom.
In this age of political correctness , it must be so diificult to tip toe through the tulips, trying not to offend people.
Trying not to offend people who live in the United Kingdom, but have an allegiance to another country.
It begs the question that if the symbols of the United Kingdom ie the Union Flag , offend these people , then why are these people living in a country whose symbols they find offensive ?
Posted by Stevie | 01.08.09, 14:32 GMT
Never mind the volume of personal data that these cards will contain should it ever become madatory to carry one, what is of the utmost importance is that it displays the Union Flag!. Would you ever grow up & crawl back into your hole and give our heads peace. Should the current 'Labor Dictatorship' with its fixation for collecting information on us all ever decide to impliment this idea, we in the North will be far too busy fighting over trivialities such as a flag or our birth rite to relise that our civil liberties are been further eroded to the extent that they no longer exist. If you wish to display your Britishness or Irishness then go and purchase the appropriate passport. Once we set foot of this island we are regarded by other nations as being Irish, not British, but Irish.
Posted by Michael | 01.08.09, 02:21 GMT
Flags, flags, flags - grow up - they are meaningless to most people.
Also, all those Unionists who object to the omission of the union flag reflect on this - it is the decision of your own dear queens government - get used to being ignored. You are viewed here in Britain as, at best, "quaint" and at worst as out of touch fossils from a bygone age.
Posted by Terence | 01.08.09, 01:28 GMT
How does one get one of these Shamrock cards??
Posted by Con, New York | 01.08.09, 00:35 GMT
I'm a protestant from Belfast. However I feel we have to be honest and realise that in N.Ireland we have divided loyalties when it comes to nationality. Some of us see ourselves as British, others as Irish and some others like myself regard themselves as being North Irish. I would prefer some sort of N.Ireland symbol such as the excellent one used by the tourist board featuring a shamrock with a red hand of Ulster in the middle.
Posted by Roy | 31.07.09, 23:42 GMT
Is it any wonder we are still the 'laughing stock' of the western world ?
N.I is certain to continue on its sad journey BACKWARDS, due to its significant number of cavemen.......
Posted by seymour gloom | 31.07.09, 22:16 GMT
Why is everyone so worked up about this issue. The Tories will be in power next year and have promised to scrap the whole scheme. There are more important things to worry about .Catch yourselves on.
Posted by archie gee | 31.07.09, 21:03 GMT
Hillarious, I would consider the governments decision to be a pragmatic one. Unionists barking up the wrong tree, now there is a surprise. This comment is brought to you from a Unionist background just incase I get accused of being biased.
Posted by M S | 31.07.09, 20:26 GMT
why is everyone so worked up about this issue. Tthe tories are going to get in next year and are going to scrap the whole idea. Cheers.
Posted by archie gee | 31.07.09, 20:24 GMT
Oh, for God's sake, half the world's population are starving to death and we have this.
Posted by Honest Joe | 31.07.09, 20:19 GMT
Andrea are you actually serious in your "reasoning", "I'm Irish - like all the people that are living on this island ", there are people of all different Nationalities living on this island, they are not all Irish just because they live on this island. If this were the case then everyone in Scotland would be English, Everyone in Canada would be American by Nationality, everyone in Portugal would be Spanish, catch my drift ? Your comment has absolutely no credibility or makes no sense whatsoever. Irish you may be and that's wonderful for you but don't dare try and label everyone else the same, it is extremely narrow minded and not your place to do so.
Posted by Seamus | 31.07.09, 19:57 GMT
This is hilarious, keep it up I m having a great laugh!
Posted by Shane | 31.07.09, 18:24 GMT
Who cares! Its voluntary and regardless of the flag that appears on the card, anybody with half a brain will not register for an ID card.
Anyway, this stupid scheme will be abolished once Labour are booted out of government.
end of!
Posted by Aaron | 31.07.09, 17:16 GMT
Is 'British' even a Nationality? Britain isn't a country after all? So why aren't you all cryng that the European flag isn't on them? We're all European aren't we??
Posted by Mark | 31.07.09, 17:11 GMT
Niall how can you state racist policies in the incident mentioned when indigenous Irish and British are both the same race ??? Unless however your Grandfather was actually a different race then please accept my apologies but note that peoples race has absolutely nothing to do with their Nationality in a lot of cases. Could i also mention that this was over 50 years ago and it is now 2009, therefore completely irrelevant to todays society in the United Kingdom, xx.
Posted by Sinead | 31.07.09, 16:48 GMT
David Barbour- did you actually use America as an example of identity? You Sir, are a fool.
Posted by Stephen J | 31.07.09, 16:41 GMT
With all due respect Sean from County Down, those are 6 words not three. I am disgusted at your lack of respect for other people, while these Titles may have no meaning to you or other republicans, they hold significant meaning to many, many others and are Internationally recognised and used. You have your own choice whether or not to use these titles but to belittle and demean them shows that you have no respect or value for any people of British culture whatsover, yet you expect this value and respect from them. I for one (and i am Catholic by the way) cannot believe that your comment which is bigoted and full of hatred and disrespect allowed to be posted. Shame on you (and be aware the whole world can read your comment, think of how you must appear to others) and shame on the Belfast Telegraph for allowing such inflammatory comments.
Posted by Sean Logue | 31.07.09, 16:31 GMT
"I assume this is the same Lord Maginnis that during the Mad Cow disease outbreak claimed that although he was BRITISH his cows were IRISH, he should be on the stage."
I literally laughed out loud!
Posted by Chris | 31.07.09, 16:18 GMT
130 Comments