People 'can't wait for ID cards'

[EternalOptimist]

Incognito - I think you should look into: -

CAPS - Card And Payment System (government project of, oh 20 years, with the objectives of "Controlling benefit fraud by requiring production of ID card and correlation of information with back-end database.")

Also, while you're at it, look into the stats of how many calls NICO get every single day regarding incorrect or missing data.

Also, you might want to look into the first failed NIRS project, and the problems they are STILL experiencing with NIRS2.

If it wasn't Friday night I would sit here and put more than a seconds thought into this. 15 years working on government IT projects does not make me a fantasist in this area.

Sally, good post but it raises a very important question..
what area ARE you a fantasist in?

[Paddy]

You will be fined if your information on your ID card is not correct or up to date. This will include a list of ALL addresses that you reside or stay regularly. All properties that you own including those abroad. Any partner living with you.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve, for the Conservatives, said the consultation document showed the ID scheme is "truly the worst of all worlds - expensive, intrusive and unworkable".

"At a time of economic hardship, the public will be dismayed that the government plans to fine innocent people for inaccuracies on the government's own database, using summary powers vested in the home secretary.

"The home secretary has confirmed the worst element of the scheme - a single, mammoth and highly vulnerable database exposing masses of our personal details to criminal hackers.

"Worse still, she has magnified the scope for fraud by allowing spot fines to be issued by email."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: "It is becoming clear how draconian the punishments will be for those that want no part in the government's illiberal and unnecessary identity database.

"Ministers are already admitting that people will be forced to pay more for the dubious privilege of an ID card than they originally promised.

"The government should do us all a favour and scrap this laminated poll tax, instead of making us all pay through the nose for it."

[Doggy Styles]

Reading through this thread it seems the argument for ID cards has been well and truly lost.

I can't find any good reason for them, but I've found several good reasons against.

But will we get them anyway?

[TimberWolf]

IMO, if the Conservatives tried to implement something like ID cards, and many other policies Labour have implemented over the years (e.g. mass immigration) there would have been riots on the streets.