The personal details of almost half the UK population are lost, stolen or strayed. The head of Revenue and Customs resigns. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's head is demanded, The government is called incompetent. Fair enough, it couldn't happen to a more deserving parcel of incompetents. But what of the fools or knaves who lost or stole the discs? What of Messrs. TNT? Well TNT is a private company and so is answerable only to its shareholders (alleged to include the US Mafia). As Mad Milt Friedmann told us, and as I never tire of quoting), " A corporation cannot be ethical; its only responsibility is to turn a profit." So if TNT stole those records and sold them to the highest bidder they would be doing what Old Milt would have considered the responsible thing. Will the head of TNT resign? Will Cameron PC and Osborne PC demand that he/she does? Will our right wing press call for his/her resignation?
I think I can safely predict that they will not. Nor will anyone dare to suggest that we cease to permit private organisations to interfere in the government and administration of this nation.