THE Government today vowed to press ahead with the hated \u00a35 billion ID cards – and roll the scheme out within months.<\/p>\n
Ignoring furious opposition over the staggering cost of the project at a time of economic crisis, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith revealed plans to charge taxpayers twice for the controversial cards.<\/p>\n
The scheme, which is to be introduced in Greater Manchester in autumn, will see everyone in Britain paying \u00a360 for their own card on top of the billions already spent.<\/p>\n
EXPRESS HYS: ARE ID CARDS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS’ CASH?<\/p>\n
And in the same week Labour deemed the cost of our brave Gurkhas living in Britain too expensive – at just \u00a31.4 billion – the Government prepared to spend a whopping \u00a35.4 billion on the nanny state scheme.<\/p>\n
It means the cost of Britain’s surveillance society – which currently stands at a crippling \u00a3800 per household – could be sent spiralling even higher. <\/p>\n
Today Mrs Smith was met with fierce opposition from some MPs and Conservatives – who said they would scrap the scheme if they win power next year. <\/p>\n
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling blasted Smith and called for the plans to be scrapped.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe Government is split down the middle on ID cards but it looks as if Jacqui Smith is carrying on regardless.<\/p>\n
\u201cPiloting the scheme in one city is nonsensical and will only serve as a tax on the people of Manchester.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should abandon this farce and scrap the whole scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil liberties group Liberty, added: \u201cOne begins to wonder what planet the Home Secretary is living on when in the middle of a recession, she wants to charge us \u00a330 for an ID card and another \u00a330 for handing over our own personal information.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of private companies profiting from this dangerous and expensive nonsense will be little compensation to hard-pressed families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anyone wanting to take part in the – initially voluntary – scheme will have to go to their local post office or pharmacy, where they will have their fingerprints read and stored along with a face scan. <\/p>\n
All the information will then be saved on a Government database.<\/p>\n
In a speech to businesses today, the Home Secretary ignored calls from some Labour MPs and the Conservatives to scrap the scheme and instead pledged to have the cards nationwide by 2012.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWith an identity card, people will be able to prove their identity quickly and conveniently while helping to protect themselves against identity fraud.<\/p>\n
\u201cID cards will deliver real benefits to everyone, including increased protection against criminals, illegal immigrants and terrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cOur next steps will be for other cities to follow Manchester\u2019s lead before full national coverage from 2012.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis phased approach will ensure that card coverage occurs hand in hand with the development of supporting technology such as chip and pin readers.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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