webofevil | Deleted scene

Off-topic rant cut from last week's ID cards post

The Tory Earl (tautology, there) of Northesk questioned the Government's apparent overconfidence in the ID card legislation.

The Earl of Northesk: [The Government’s wording] asserts without qualification that the register will be secure and reliable. I… do not question the desirability of this, but simply to say it is so does not make it so.

The fuddy-duddy fool. You can tell this man's never used the word "strategic" in cold blood. Of course saying it is so makes it so: set a target and your work is done. “Last year we spent £8 billion on Initiative A!” “Did it get any results?” “Yes, we set loads of targets!” “Did you meet any of them?” “Hmm? Can't talk now, we're launching Initiative B!”