Stephen's views on ID cards
Both the Liberal Democrats and I have always been firmly against this illiberal and expensive measure.
This is an attack on civil liberties that fundamentally changes the relationship between the individual and state. We are moving away from a position where information is not shared unless necessary, towards one where it will be shared unless there is a reason not to.
I do not believe ID cards will help to fight crime or terrorism or tackle most illegal working and benefit fraud, but they will waste a vast amount of public resources. This is especially relevant in light of the government's poor record on IT projects. The money from this ineffective scheme would be better spent on a larger and better equipped police force. This would be more effective in tackling crime and the terrorist threat.
Unfortunately the government appear to have got their way with the adoption of the ID Cards Bill. This is particularly disappointing as the Bill was voted through following a U-turn by the new, supposedly liberal, Conservatives. Although both the government and Conservatives claim there was a major compromise between advocates and opponents of ID Cards, this is simply nonsense. The only concession that came from the Government was a modest delay in the obligation to receive an ID card to January 1st 2010. The Government always planned that 2009 would be the first full year of the scheme's operation so this can hardly be described as significant delay.
We have always maintained that the new National Identity Database is the main intrusion into private life and civil liberties. Provision of information for this database will now commence for all renewals of passports from 2008. Although we will have another opportunity to vote against compulsory ID cards, the only way in which people will be able to opt out of the database after Jan 1st 2010 is by giving up their right to travel abroad.
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