Revenue to have access to National ID database

[threaded]

The Tories have pledged to cancel this ID card scheme immediately.

Another reason (if any more were needed) to vote for them.

The Tories will promise anything and everything to get in power.

I will laugh my socks off at you lot when they do a u-turn on this the minute they get in.

They'll just re-brand it.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

The Tories have pledged to cancel this ID card scheme immediately.

Another reason (if any more were needed) to vote for them.

And the single issue on which I'll be voting Tory next time, so let's hope they don't get waylayed by the useless turds at the Home Office once they get in. This whole steaming pile of crap (ID cards) is the work of pathetic shiny-trousered civil servants with no guts and no imagination. They had to enlist the snake oil salesmen to persuade the politicians - let's hope they don't manage it again - after all both main parties have switched their stance on this.

[Moscow Mule]

Where does it say that?

All over google. They pledged to do it in 2007 iirc.

[scooterscot]

The Tories have pledged to cancel this ID card scheme immediately.

Another reason (if any more were needed) to vote for them.

Where does it say that?

[OwlHoot]

[I]There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are out-phased, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now parting on the right

:::

That may be so, but as the Good Book says "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"...

[BrowneIssue]

The Tories have pledged to cancel this ID card scheme immediately.

Another reason (if any more were needed) to vote for them.

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are out-phased, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now parting on the right
And their beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!




Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

[OwlHoot]

The Tories have pledged to cancel this ID card scheme immediately.

Another reason (if any more were needed) to vote for them.

[dinker]

You may have heard of the expression "the thin end of the wedge", well this is it:

you need it to get any medical help
your car wont start without it
you will need it to get on or off any public transport
you will need to to walk down every street in the country (RFID becons checking everyone has one with them)
you need need it to buy a a packet of crisps/anything else
it will replace cash and all your other bank cards.
it will eventually be implanted into you to make things simpler

[Board Game Geek]

Considering the HMRC already know how much people earn, via the perfectly legitimate system of tax collection, I can't see what difference the purchases on an ID card would make in this instance.

Unless of course someone is declaring that they earn X, but are spending 2X, 3X or more. Which needs investigating for potential fraud regardless.

[expat]

If you have nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear

Even from the people who are going to have power after we throw away this democracy out of fury at being robbed by our MPs?

[Benny]

Personal data gathered for the controversial ID cards scheme will be made available to the taxman.

HM Revenue and Customs officials will be able to trawl through a person's financial transactions for hints of any undeclared earnings or bank accounts.

There was already widespread concern that the Home Office, police and security officials would have access to the scheme's database.

But campaigners said handing information to tax inspectors was a sinister development.

The powers that give 'Commissioners for Revenue and Customs' access to the ID cards audit log were buried away in orders laid before Parliament earlier this week - at the same time as the full extent of the expenses scandal was emerging.

The log records each time a card has been used to verify a person's identity when they make a big value purchase, open a bank account or take out a mortgage.

If a large number of verifications for big items are recorded, it could signal to the taxman a person earns more money than they declared. Undeclared second homes could also lead to higher tax payments.

The audit trail will also include checks made by employers that a person applying for a job is here legally. This could also make the taxman aware of any undeclared second occupations.

Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign, said: 'It would be hypocrisy of the highest order for politicians so reluctant to come clean on their own personal finances to pass legislation that would let the taxman snoop through all of ours.

'The big lie of the ID scheme is that it's for our benefit - the detail shows it's all about giving the bureaucrats and bean-counters more control.'

The Home Office says the ID card scheme will make life easier for both businesses and their customers. Companies will be charged around 60p a time to check details held on the giant 'big brother' database.

Every time a check is made against the ID card, it will be logged on the National Identity Register - and the details made available to the taxman.

Officials hope for up to 770million 'verifications' each year.

The data includes addresses, any second homes and National Insurance numbers.

Firms will be told that using the scheme will cut millions from their annual fraud bills and save them hefty fines for employing illegal immigrants.

Officials believe it will be cheaper for companies to confirm identity through the database than by using current methods such as bills and driving licences. The Home Office said businesses would need a person's consent to check information about them.

Official documents reveal that some 44,000 organisations could be 'accredited' to carry out verification checks.

They range from Whitehall departments, banks and financial institutions to mobile phone and video rental shops.

It comes after Jacqui Smith's announcement earlier this month that members of the public will be expected to have their fingerprints taken at the Post Office or in high street shops and pharmacies when they sign up for a card or passport.

At present, the right to take fingerprints is largely restricted to the police.

If you have nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear