Articles and Speeches

ID Cards - The Plastic Punch
01-Jul-05, Windsor Express Column.

"We have been robustly debating Identity Cards in Parliament this week.

Some people are instinctively in favour and you may be one of them. Some say ‘if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t object to having an ID card’.

When the Government tell us that ID cards will stop terrorism, combat crime, stop benefit fraud and help control immigration, it is understandable that people may support them.

But, when you understand what ID cards will mean in practice and they fail to solve the problems, it’s no surprise to discover that many Labour MPs and LibDems are also against them.

First, the Spanish carry ID cards but this did not stop the Madrid bombing. It is also striking to that American’s rejected them, despite the 9/11 atrocity. They understood that the terrorists were carrying legitimate ID, and would not have been prevented by ID cards.

Second, the pilot schemes have shown that the technology is only 80% accurate. The elderly and those with disabilities were the least likely to be identified correctly. That means that on 1 in 5 occasions you will be identified incorrectly and have to justify yourself to officials!

Third, you will be asked to report to a Government processing centre to have your retinas scanned and fingerprints taken. This strikes me as draconian and lacks respect for the elderly in particular.

And finally, the plastic punch, it has now been revealed that the card may cost you up to £200. On this basis it’s no wonder that almost everyone is opposed.

There are better common sense ways to solve today’s problems. Let’s not force good people to reveal their personal details to the Government."

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor