Identity Crisis for ID Scheme Continues

Article published: Sunday, November 15th 2009

The government are once again trying to re-brand the identity card ahead of their launch in Manchester. This time it is being touted as a “convenient” form of ID for proving your age.

Image by Polyp Home Office minister Meg Hillier told the BBC: “Greater Manchester has got among the highest number of young people in a single area across Europe.

“People often take their passports to prove their identity, going to nightclubs and bars and the Passport Service sweeps these up every week.

“For a lot of young people this will save the cost and the hassle of risking losing it, and instead we have got this very convenient credit-sized card.”

But former shadow home secretary David Davis said: “This is a far from robust defence of one of their most expensive follies.”

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green added: “I would advise anyone in Manchester not to bother wasting £30 on an identity card as a Conservative government would scrap this expensive, intrusive and unworkable scheme. The Government shouldn’t hoodwink anyone in Manchester that there are benefits to this card.”

Both the Conservatives and Lib Dems are committed to abolishing ID cards if they win the next election.

Tim Hunt

More: Manchester, News

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