Daily Archives: May 17, 2007


Julian Cole writes in the York Press: Here’s a suggestion for Gordon Brown, and it won’t cost him a penny. More than that, it could save him untold millions, which should appeal to his famed prudence. While he trundles about the country, trying to win over voters before grasping Tony Blair’s tarnished crown, he should announce that he plans to drop ID cards. The projected costs of these cards are spiralling by the week, or maybe even the day. So the Prime-Minister-in-waiting could win himself what we can fairly call Brownie points by ditching the preposterous scheme in favour of respecting citizens’ rights and privacy. At a stroke of his well-chewed Biro – he looks like a man who chews Biros, and I write as one who should know – Gordon could save money and gain face. Opposition to the cards is to be found at both ends of the […]

Chance to earn Brownie points


Charles Arthur writes in The Guardian: Precisely what will it take for the government to abandon its pursuit of ID cards? Last week the Home Office issued its latest estimate of the cost of implementing this vast IT boondoggle, which has risen 12% – another £640m – in the past six months, while shifting £510m of past and future spending over to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. That means you and I will be paying £100-odd for an “e-passport” and ID card package which … when did we ask for them again? The last Labour election manifesto called them “voluntary”. Except for the cost to the country. The ID cards “debate” has been anything but. The government has in effect ignored petitions made online, while IT companies that understand its failings keep quiet because they might get a juicy, cost-plus contract. “In effect, this report says that the total cost […]

Kill ID cards before they kill your government, Mr Brown