SCRAP ID CARDS

Hornchurch & Rainham MP and Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Brokenshire has this week accused a Government Minister of acting out the political equivalent of Monty Python’s Dead Parrot Sketch during a debate on ID Cards.  The MP’s comments followed a Government climb-down by saying that airside workers at London City and Manchester Airports will no longer be compelled to have an identity card – they can simply have one if they wish.  The Home Office has also questioned an original commitment that the cards should ultimately be compulsory for everyone.

Rather than being about the prevention of terrorism or serious crime as had previously been claimed, Ministers are now saying that the controversial proposals are to help enable people to identify themselves when obtaining services. However, James Brokenshire ridiculed the suggestion during a Parliamentary debate on new regulations to implement the troubled plans suggesting that the flagship policy was now little more than a costly way of giving new rights to queue jump.
Commenting James said:

“The bottom line is that this is a policy that has been drifting for some time. It is without support and remains devoid of a solid purpose or justification. However, the Government seem intent on pumping millions and millions more public money into a project that, if it is not a dead parrot, is certainly a white elephant.

“The Government should face up to reality and scrap the national ID card scheme for UK citizens.  If it wants to do something useful it should concentrate on projects that will deliver real benefits and value for money to the public in these difficult economic times.”

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