The end for the Identity Card is a great day for civil liberties
One of the key parts of the Liberal Democrats manifesto, the abolition of identity cards, has finally been agreed.
The Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned against ID cards, a scheme introduced by the previous Labour Government.
“This ever creeping intrusion into every citizens life and the slide towards an Orwellian state has been dealt a true blow with the agreement by the coalition government to scrap the scheme as soon as possible and now royal assent being granted. It is a great day for civil liberties” said Scott Collins this evening.
The abolition of identity cards was confirmed yesterday, when the Identity Documents Bill was granted Royal Assent.
All existing ID cards will be cancelled within one month, and the National Identity Register, the database which contains the biographic and biometric fingerprint data of card holders, will be destroyed within two months.
The Identity Card Scheme and other biometrics work has already cost the taxpayer £292 million. The Act has saved £835 million in planned future investment.
“This scheme, championed by Gordon Brown, was an ridiculously expensive white elephant. ID Cards have not worked elsewhere in the world and would never have worked here. Thankfully the British people will now not have the expense of this ill conceived and wastful plan” said Scott Collins commenting further.
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