Thursday 2 July 2009

Climb-Down On Compulsory ID Cards

It is a shame that the government made a u turn on one of its pledges on it's manifesto as I have traveled the world where I had to show some form of ID and would like the opportunity to own a UK ID card instead of carrying a passport in my back pocket or jacket pocket as the item itself is starting to get bulky.

I say to the government don't give up the fight and learn the lessons of Lord Peter Mandelson.

ID card plan climbdown is a victory for commonsense

The climbdown on compulsory ID cards is a victory not only for people who dont want the ID cards who may be druggies, criminals,or people who want to hide from the system but for common sense and tough campaigning.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson made the right decision not to hesitate before ditching the scheme which risked becoming Labour's plastic poll tax.

It was fast losing public support as people began to worry about how safe their personal details would be in the hands of the Government.

There was growing unease at the remorseless spread of the database state, and the idea that a piece of plastic would defeat sophisticated terror networks was always a nonsense.

The only question now is why the Government has not gone the whole way and ditched the ID card scheme completely.

It is still pressing ahead with spending billions on a central identity database.

Ministers will still be trying to encourage people to voluntarily sign up for the cards.

Gordon Brown should recognise that when a policy is wrong it should be dropped, even if it is seen as a humiliating U-turn.
Saving face is not as important as saving taxpayers' money