Labour ‘farce’ as ID cards scheme descends into muddle


Brendan Carlin writes in the Mail on Sunday:

The Goverment’s identity-card scheme has been branded ‘a farce’ last night after it was revealed it will be expanded this week – despite Alistair Darling casting doubt over the future of the project.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson is expected to announce within the next few days that 16 to 24-year-olds in London will be able to apply for £30 voluntary ID cards.

But the move comes just days after the Chancellor appeared to suggest that he would cut the funding for ID cards.

It also follows a shambolic launch of voluntary ID cards in Liverpool last week when Home Office Minister Meg Hillier turned up to promote them, but left hers at home.