Greens: ID cards ‘controversial, intrusive and unnecessary’

The Green party has lambasted the government for its plans to phase-in ID cards, reiterating criticism from the joint committee on human rights (JCHR) that the scheme risks promoting racial profiling.

Jean Lambert, a Green MEP, claims introducing mandatory biometric immigration documents (BIDs) for foreigners but not citizens indicates “a fundamental shift in our immigration philosophy and perspective”.

“The UK has always had border controls but never before internal controls. This, however, looks set to change,” she said.

In a strong defence of immigrant groups, which the Green party believes are unfairly stigmatised by both the media and the government, Ms Lambert said: “Experimenting with the ID card scheme on the most vulnerable people, those who have the most to lose if it does not work, is simply unacceptable.

“Not only could this lead to allegations of racism but opens up more questions than it answers.”

The party, which is radically opposed to ID cards, views the proposals as an opening salvo in Home Office attempts to establish them in the UK, and warned the UK border bill proposals gave some indication of where government policy was heading.

“ID cards have always been controversial, intrusive and unnecessary,” she argued.

“Requiring non-EU nationals married to British citizens, to hold ID cards is shocking. It is the thin end of the wedge indicating that we should all be cautious of future Government initiatives.”

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