15 arguments against the ID Card

15 arguments against the ID Card, interestingly from a Conservative source:

1. With 20 million National Insurance numbers more than there are British people and chaos in virtually every Government computer system there is no way that Blair and his Ministers can even properly compile never mind administer an ID Card system.

2. ID Cards will be IN ADDITION to other cards. You will still have to show library cards, entitlement cards, bank cards, etc etc.

3. ID Cards did not stop Al Qaeda organising in Germany nor bombing in Madrid. Of the 25 countries most affected by terrorism 80% have an ID Card system!

4. The General Secretary of Interpol has said that ID Cards "are not meaningful or significant in the anti terrorism strategy" and that ALL terrorists arrested have had FALSE ID CARDS.

5. Anyone who has seen the farcical "security system" at our Westminster Parliament knows that while the innocent stand in a queue the very existence of a security card means that criminals can forge one and wave it at "Security Staff". MPs even refuse to wear their passes!

6. Despite Government lies to the contrary, the truth is that when told that the ID Card would cost at least £30 each only 19% supported it! (The Government of course asked the question, not mentioning cost, that would get the answer they wanted!)

7. As anyone knows who has lived in a country with ID Cards you have to report to the Police whenever you move address and it is an offence NOT to carry a card.

8. The Government says it will not be compulsory to carry an ID Card - SO WHAT IS THE POINT? Do the Police send a terrorist suspect home to get his Card?

9. In the USA the "Social Security Number" is an "identity hub" (As the UK ID system is planned to be) ie it gives vast connections to an individual's links with private and public bodies - SO IDENTITY THEFT IS VERY HIGH IN THE USA.

11. In November 2004 the Government's estimate for the cost of the ID System was £5.56billion - enough to build at least 50 hospitals! Recent independent academic reports suggest over £10billion!

12. The introduction of the ID Card will mean NEW CRIMINAL OFFENCES: failure to obey an order to register: failure to update card (£1,000 fine): failure to renew card (£1,000 fine): failure to notify that a card has been lost: fine of £2,500 for failure to attend to have fingerprints taken and eye scanned.

13. The Government's Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the Home Office cannot even register properly half a million people a year. How will they register 60 million UK residents?

14. The criminal records register is not kept properly with 100 people EVERY MONTH being wrongly accused of having a criminal record.

15. The Government's own INFORMATION COMMISSIONER has described himself as "increasingly alarmed" at the ID Card proposals.