ID cards for UK citizens, if current leaks are to be believed, are being delayed until after the next election. The combination of recent disasters with private data held by government bodies (an issue highlighted in this blog previously) and the growing cost of the scheme appear to be combining to persuade key decision makers in the Home Office to delays the implementation until at least 2012. David Davis, Conservative home shadow home secretary responded to this news by describing the current ID card scheme as being "in the intensive care ward".
This is a good thing, in my opinion.
It's important, however, that those who have opposed the ID cards do not grow complacent at this development. There is still political and legislative work to be done to roll back the scheme from its current, albeit lame, position. The National Identity Register remains a serious threat to our freedoms and is already significantly changing the relationship between the individual and the state, perhaps irrevocably.
One practical step than concerned citizens can do in the mean time is to make sure they and the members of their households are registered to vote. When the next general election does come round, it's important that citizens use their vote to stop this policy dead.
This is a good thing, in my opinion.
It's important, however, that those who have opposed the ID cards do not grow complacent at this development. There is still political and legislative work to be done to roll back the scheme from its current, albeit lame, position. The National Identity Register remains a serious threat to our freedoms and is already significantly changing the relationship between the individual and the state, perhaps irrevocably.
One practical step than concerned citizens can do in the mean time is to make sure they and the members of their households are registered to vote. When the next general election does come round, it's important that citizens use their vote to stop this policy dead.
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