Labour has been obsessed with introducing ID cards. A solution looking for a problem, Labour has tried almost every excuse in the book to justify them - anti-terrorism, anti-money laundering, anti fraud, to help pay benefits to people, to help pay benefits only to British people, to help access healthcare, etc. etc.

As with so much of government procurement, they grossly underestimated the cost of the scheme both the amount to be paid from taxation and the amounts to be paid by those receiving cards. They overstated what the technology would be able to deliver. And they also disingenuously said that cards would be optional, but that those applying for or renewing a British passport would receive an ID card as well, making them optional only for those with no intention of ever travelling abroad.

Eventually, public scepticism, helped by a very efficient lobbying campaign by NO2ID, meant that ID cards have been delayed indefinitely. And it seems that an incoming Conservative administration will ditch both the cards and the database that it relies upon.

Labour, on the other hand, will take both projects forward again. A vote for Labour is a very unwelcome step towards a police state.

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Filed under: Politics with tags conservatives, no2id, privacy, reasons not to vote labour