Yes, our data is really safe in the hands of the buffons that inhabit the upper echelons of the civil service and parliament. I was going to write something about the loss of data about terrorist threats, followed the very next day by more top secret data loss, followed today by Hazel Blears having her laptop nicked…and that it probably had confidential information on it that it shouldn’t have.

Just have  a quick peak at this page on the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7459579.stm

…the four headlines are:

‘Blears computer theft ‘alarming’

‘More secret files found on train’

‘Breach’ caused terror file loss’

‘MoD laptop stolen from McDonalds’

ID cards????? You would think they must be having a laugh, but unfortunately no. It often feels to me that we live in a very unpleasant environment of what I would describe as authoritarian libertarianism. It’s ok for Tesco’s to sell over strength alcohol to young people; it’s ok for the same company not to pay what they should in tax; but meanwhile we’re all subjected to this blanket coverage CCTV and endless shouting messages (any wait in the underground or even short train journey will illustrate the point). And a government that’s determined to collect as much data about us as possible - but from their own example, with no sense they will ever look after it.