Tories flip flop on ID cards

Tories changing their minds is nothing new - particularly under David Cameron's leadership - but to be in favour of ID cards one day and opposed to them the next smacks of ... opportunism. In the run up to the 2005 election we were told:

"Sources within the Conservative Party told the BBC Michael Howard has always been in favour of ID cards, and tried to introduce them when he was Home Secretary."

Today we are told:

"The Conservative Party has stated publicly that it is our intention to cancel the ID cards project immediately on our being elected to government."

Why exactly?

I have always had my doubts about ID cards - mainly centred on the pragmatic aspects and not the principle. As far as I can see the planned cards will only contain basic identification information including the name, address, gender, date of birth and a photo of the holder - not unlike many Storecards that millions of people in Britain already have.

The case for ID cards is a case not about liberty but about the modern world. Biometrics give us the chance to have secure identity and the bulk of the ID cards' cost will have to be spent on the new biometric passports in any event. It is also the case that a national identity system will have direct benefits in making our borders more secure and countering illegal immigration.

ID cards should be made compulsory for all non-EU foreign nationals looking for work, this will enable us, for the first time, to check accurately those coming into our country, their eligibility to work, for free hospital treatment or to claim benefits.