Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour) MP for Luton North. One of the most persistent rebels against the government. First elected on 1st May 1997. Before becoming a politician he worked as a political/economic researcher with NALGO/UNISON. He has a BA in Politics, Economics and Mathematics with Statistics from Nottingham University.

Copyright

House of Commons debate Point of Order Sound Recordings (Copyright Term Extension) 5 December 2007

Pete Wishart, supported by Mr. Ian Cawsey MP, Mr. Mark Field MP, Sandra Gidley MP, John Robertson MP, Rosemary McKenna MP, Adam Price MP, Mr. Greg Knight MP, John Hemming MP, Stewart Hosie MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP and Janet Anderson MP, presented a Bill to extend beyond 50 years the copyright term of sound recordings; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 7 March, and to be printed [Bill 33].

Electronic Voting

Signed an Early Day Motion in 2002 Prevention of fraud in electronic voting systems

That this House believes that no electronic system of voting should be introduced into any British election unless it is accompanied by a verifiable paper trail for every vote cast, which if needs be can be used to address any concerns that may be raised that such electronic systems are faulty, defective or used fraudulently.

Identity cards

Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins has voiced his opposition to ID cards and was one of the Labour rebels who voted against the scheme.

Signed Early Day Motion 263 Identity Cards 06 June 2005

That this House believes that a convincing case for the introduction of compulsory biometric identity cards and a national database has not been made, that the risks involved far outweigh any discernible benefit, that the introduction of identity cards will fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and the state, diminish personal privacy and threaten civil liberties, that the present proposals do not provide properly costed, proportionate or effective solutions to the problems they are claimed to solve; and calls upon the Government to shelve plans for their introduction.

Freedom of Information

Signed Early Day Motion 845 Freedom of Information 06 Febuary 2007

That this House expresses concern that the proposed new fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act would allow authorities to refuse on cost grounds a high proportion of requests which they are currently required to answer; notes that the Government's consultation document recognises that this will have a greater impact on journalists, hon. Members, campaign groups and researchers than on private individuals; considers that such changes would undermine the Act's contribution to increased discussion of public affairs, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities; and calls on the Government not to proceed with the proposals.

Signed Early Day Motion 2699 Freedom of Information 10 December 2006

That this House welcomes the finding of the Constitutional Affairs Committee (HC991) that the Freedom of Information Act has `already brought about the release of significant new information and....this information is being used in a constructive and positive way' and the committee's conclusion that it sees `no need to change' the Act's charging arrangements; views with concern reports that the Government is considering changing these arrangements to permit an application fee to be charged for all requests or to allow authorities to refuse, on cost grounds, a significant proportion of requests which they currently must answer; and considers that such changes could undermine the Act's benefits of increased openness, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities.

DNA database

Signed Early Day Motion 1697 Use of the DNA database 27 Febuary 2006

That this House expresses its concern about the retention of DNA data taken from children aged 10 to 18 years who have never been charged or cautioned with any offence; notes large regional differences in retention policy between various police forces; and believes that this imbalance is being further exacerbated by the Government's unwillingness to issue clear guidelines to chief constables about the removal of innocent children from the National Police DNA Database.

Database State

Signed Early Day Motion 210 Data Intrusion 21 November 2006

That this House notes with concern the increasing incidence of data intrusion or data rape, as it is increasingly becoming known, the process whereby personal and hitherto confidential data is transferred to central databases established by the Government which can then be made available to third parties, such as police and security services, without consent being required; notes that the operation of the new national medical database will require medical records, which until now have remained in the confidential custody of general practitioner practices, to be uploaded to the Spine, a computer which will collect details from doctors and hospitals; supports the British Medical Association in its demand that patients should be asked for their explicit permission before their files are transferred; further notes with concern the reports of plans to establish and expand national databases in relation to the identity card scheme, DNA and the national census; and calls on the Government to establish a legislative framework which will safeguard access to personal data which has as its foundation not only the requirement for explicit consent but the right to know which agencies have a right to, and have requested access to, personal information.

Also see NHS, Identity cards and DNA database.

Computer Games

Signed Early Day Motion 61 Epilepsy and screen-based electronic games 6 November 2007

That this House recognises that photosensitive epileptic seizures can be triggered by screen-based electronic games; notes with concern that there is no legal duty on computer game publishers to test their products before publication to make sure they do not trigger a seizure; further notes with concern that there is no legal requirement for computer game publishers to offer warnings that their products could trigger a seizure; and calls upon the Government to consider making it a legal requirement for computer game publishers to test their products before publication and to remove scenes that could potentially trigger a photosensitive epileptic seizure.

Links

Kelvin Hopkins MP Kelvin's website
Kelvin Hopkins MP TheyWorkForYou.com
Kelvin Hopkins MP Wikipedia

News

2007-03-08 - The Guardian - E-petitions could undermine democracy, MPs warned: Author: Matthew Tempest; Summary: Online petitions like the 1.8m-strong one against road pricing risk undermining representative democracy, a committee of senior MPs warned today. ... Kelvin Hopkins, another Labour member of the committee, went further, saying such electronic petitions would have been "loved by dictators like Hitler". He warned that current day "populists of the right" could "whip up war fervour" with electronic petitions. And he said: "Dictators like Hitler would have loved the internet, sending out petitions asking what people think of the Jews and claiming he was communicating directly with the people - and then trace back the individuals who answered."

2006-02-14 - The Guardian - Labour ID card rebels: Summary: Diane Abbott MP (Hackney North & Stoke Newington), Katy Clark MP (Ayrshire North and Arran), Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North), Gwyneth Dunwoody MP (Crewe & Nantwich), Mark Fisher MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central), Paul Flynn MP (Newport West), Ian Gibson MP (Norwich North), Kate Hoey MP (Vauxhall), Kelvin Hopkins MP (Luton North), Glenda Jackson MP (Hampstead & Highgate), Lynne Jones MP (Birmingham Selly Oak), John McDonnell MP (Hayes & Harlington), Robert Marshall-Andrews MP (Medway), Linda Riordan MP (Halifax), Clare Short MP (Birmingham Ladywood), Alan Simpson MP (Nottingham South), John Smith MP (Vale of Glamorgan), David Taylor MP (Leicestershire North West), Robert Wareing MP (Liverpool West Derby), Mike Wood MP (Batley & Spen)

2005-06-29 - The Guardian - ID cards: the Labour rebels: Summary: Analysis of division lists showed 20 Labour MPs voted against on second reading: Diane Abbott MP, Katy Clark MP, Frank Cook MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, Mark Fisher MP, Paul Flynn MP, Kate Hoey MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Lynne Jones MP, John McDonnell MP, Robert Marshall-Andrews MP, Linda Riordan MP, Clare Short MP, Alan Simpson MP, John Smith MP, Robert Wareing MP, David Winnick MP, Mike Wood MP