ID Card plan secretive, expensive and inconsistent

4.01.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 4th Aug 2006

UK National Identity Card (Design Mock-up)

Tony Blair's determination to press ahead with plans to introduce identity cards received a double blow today when two reports accused the Government of confusion and of keeping the public in the dark. A Commons committee reported that plans for ID cards were "inconsistent" and "lacking clarity" and questioned the Home Office's claim that the overall cost would be half the £19bn estimate of analysts. Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, found that the Treasury analysis of the scheme was being unfairly kept secret and ordered details to be made public.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson said "The Prime Minister seems determined to push ahead with identity cards despite the growing body of opinion warning against their implementation. Identity cards will cost a fortune and won't stop terrorism or fraud. If Tony Blair wants to nail his legacy to ID cards then it will be a suitable end to his faltering premiership."