The issue is not one of having a piece of plastic with your picture on, no-one would really object to that. The serious objection is to the Government's plan to store all our details on a central database, accessible by any number of faceless officials. This is scary.
I plan to leave the country if this scheme is ever implemented.

Nick H, London,

it is only a matter of time before a manufactured scenerio happens, for a few months and then the government steps in to change the law, one which may involve us being monitored in our living rooms, kitchens, all in the national good of course.

Mark, Yorkshire,

Pete From London - thing is with signing up for Ebay (or Amazon, Facebook, Bebo, Myspace or anything else) is that YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO SO. And it doesn't cost £4B.

The amount of money on something we don't need is absolute jaw dropping insanity. Particularly given the squeeze of the Olympics if nothing else. To have to fund both of these at once is likely to cause chaos. And this is without even touching upon all those civil liberty issues, which, as a nation we're already full of resentment for. Stop it now. It's already got too silly.

Isabella, London,

The fascistic New Labour Project, which some people in this country were stupid enough to vote for, is now living on borrowed time. We should be rid of this rotten government before it has a chance to implement this authoritarian scheme.

Paul, Coventry,

I look forward to the government misplacing more of our personal information...

Eddie, Manchester, UK

1984, anyone?
On the other hand, how about the mark of the beast [see the Book of Revelation] . no one allowed to buy and sell, get married etc without the mark.

charon, axminster, england

It is amzing that by not having an ID card, you will lose many freedoms, but this isn`t enough...they know there is great opposition to ID cards, and this why "they" they are going to impose huge fines. If enough people stand together and refuse, they will back down, like Poll Tax

Carl Jones, London,

As someone said earlier - those people who already have to wear photo ID cards/tags at work know full well that they are rarely (if ever) scrutinised by security. Just to have it pinned on or worn around the neck will permit unchecked admission to secure places - including airside at airports.

If photo ID is scrutinised what sort of "percentage of resemblance" is expected. Even a 50 percent resemblance could easily match 100 or more people and yet this is the only security system operated by most organisations. My passport photo looks nothing like me but I am nodded through custome and immigration with hardly a pause.

I have no real objections to photo ID cards (I, like millions have a photo driving licence) but I do resent the compulsory extraction and recording of biometric data (how long before DNA is required?) and being charged large sums for the dubious privilege.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

What an interesting announcement from the Government ... especially considering that the Bill enabling identity cards hasn't been approved by Parliament or even given a First Reading

Nick Ellis, Slough, UK

I want to know one and only one thing!!! WHEN IS THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION??????

Matt, London,

means that it is much more difficult, even if someone does get hold of details about you, for them to use it to commit fraud or commit a crime.” -

This is just a totally ridiculous throw away comment, it has absolutly no basis in fact - as if linking bank, address and other personal details to "biometric" data somehow makes it more secure, its all just data, 1 and 0's. There needs to be more accountability in making false statments like this, anyone who knows about how data is stored knows that this doesnt make data anymore secure. Yet you here Smith bring out this line all the time.

A Halliday, Newcastle, England

The government claims that these cards and the database behind them is secure and will be essential for our security against terrorism. Fine. Let MPs and the civil service be the first to trial the system. They always claim to require extra security - this is their chance to leap ahead of us again.

Edwin, Bucharest,

Can someone explain what real benefit these cards will provide? Will illegals be forced to carry them?.

Hamad Lone, London, England

1984.... What happens if I lose the confounded thing, will I be forced to buy another one?

drew, London,

next they'll be implanting microchips under our skin to totally control us and "voila", the totalitarian regime in through the back door... and, have I miss something? has there been a request for id cards from the UK population?

zeitgeist, London,

I was involved in the original "test run" for an ID card and have a card to prove it. I was in favour.
After yesterday's demonstration of Labour's dishonesty and lack of Honour, I now believe NOTHING any government Minister or MP says. In principle, I judge them to be lying unless proven otherwise.

M. Cawdery, Portadown, UK

Sadly ,we continue on our road to an Orwellian state. The justification of these cards, like all these other "security initiatives" such as extra CCTV's, phone taps and airport checks to name but a few, is simply an excuse for years of weak, politically correct, government. History will determine Blairs legacy but by then it may be too late.

J Smith, Swindon,

As I am living in Japan a country where all foreign nationals have to carry identity cards, I think it is a good idea to introduce them as soon as possible in the UK.
Just recently in Japan they have also started to take fingerprints of all foreign nationals entering the country. Japan has done this because of the number of foreign nationals involved in crime, as I am not involved in crime I have no problem with them taking these actions.

Justin Alderson, Sendai, Japan

I have lived and worked in the UK for almost 10 years now but I have never naturalised as I am from an EU country so I never saw the need to do so... Do I have to give my details first? Can I be kicked out if I refuse?

Mental...

Nuffit, London,

So, what happens if a card is lost, misplaced, stolen, or damaged? Forget about forged for a moment, but think of the tremendous difficulty in replacing this card.

"I need to replace my card"

"I need to see your card"

"But that's what I need to replace!"

"I can not issue a card without proper ID"

Or, consider if the electronic encoding is hacked. Machines don't process your fingerprint, but an electronic version of it. What will they do if your "fingerprint" data pattern gets knicked? Issue you a new finger print?

"I'm sorry sir, but that hand will simply *have* to come off. Its been compromised."

Doug, Atlanta, GA,

As an airline pilot I have a company ID card which I am required to carry. I operate out of a regional airport and I am required to carry and display an airport ID Card. In addition to this I am required to carry my passport. to carry out my duties. I have to apply to Scottish discloser for a criminal record check each time my ID Cards lapse.

In addition as an ex military person I have been vetted and required to sign the official secrets act

How many forms of ID do I need to do my job?

peter ridley, hexham, UK

ID cards represent a complete erosion of our freedom and a total disregard for basic human rights. If this becomes reality I shall renounce all my possessions, give up my job, change my identity and go to live on a commune somewhere.

Christian Howard, York,

What are you talking about? You've signed up for ebay accounts, carry your credit cards, payback, bonus, whatsoever plastic but object to have a simple ID everyone else has? It wouldn't be so downright ridiculous if the very people who make such fuss about it remembered what an abundance of information they trade away without anyone asking for it.

Pete, London,

And who is it that will maintain this Database, the same company that charges the government and arm and a leg to access any part of it, which means departments will just send all the information to get lost in some sorting office???

rick, colwyn bay, Wales

Don't worry about being tracked via an ID card - you are tracked every time you switch on a mobile phone (you do not need to make a call) and every time you use a credit card or withdraw cash from a machine.

You may be tracked whenever you collect your emails and whenever you send one.

CCTV and London's congestion charge system all contribute to the state's surveillance capacity.

Will all this reduce the terrorist threat? Only if they are not very bright and unfortunately that is rarely the case.

Will all this increase the threat of excessive interference and reduce our freedoms and liberties from this or any future government? You bet!

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Who on earth will be making this cheaply enough in three years that every shop you go in to will be able to scan your face and fingerprints securely, convert to digital data, secure it through at least 512 bit encrytion (I don't want my details flying around ready to be hacked by anyone with a PC), have the government decipher it at the other end along with the thousands of other requests for bank accounts & booking flights etc, match the data to the 60 million profiles in the database & confirm, finally to then send back a confirmation to my retailer?

This will take computing on an extreme scale, therefore I don't think anybody can even try to say this is for our own 'personal data security'. The government merely wants to know exactly who is here so they can profile, collect taxes and make sure noone is beating the system. Unfortunately, the people who enter the country illegally are the ones who will be doing this either through their choice or by smuggled force.

Alistair Kipling, Birmingham,

What is NEVER explained is-Will banks, libraries, shops,ferry ports or whatver be equipped with biometric scanners so that they can check my irises/ fingerprints against those recorded in my card.
If not, then what is the point of having an ID card in day-to-day life? Why is it better that any old ID card with a photo?

Jane, Letham, Angus

I didn't think it would be the UK as the front runner in "the mark of the beast". I thought, China, USA, Venzuela (since Chavez took office). Bummer. How is it "volunteering" if there is a fine imposed for not complying? None of the "reasoning" for this ID card is logical; how about the press find out the *real* reason for this intense identification process; news worth reading!

VDoty, Columbia, SC USA via China

welcome to the Soviet Republic of Little Britain.Another useful tool to watch and tax us efficiently.

T J Glover, weymouth, dorset

The vast majority on this and other websites seem to be firmly opposed to the proposed ID cards. I wonder whether the Home Secretary ever reads any of these comments to sample what the people she supposedly represents actually think? Or would that be too much like a referendum?

Adam, London, UK

An ID card seems reasonable enough but a biometric identity based on fingerprints, iris scan and, who knows, brainwave readings of our most intimate thoughts? More like Big Brother in A Scary New World.

Ray Massart, Hombeek, Belgium

Put me down for one of the forged ones, it will be cheaper and work better!

Andy, France,

ID cards were forced in countries under British rule during the existence of the British Empire. But Britain has none. Now they try to introduce them and people rebel.

Hypocrisy anyone?

Andreas Andreou, Nottingham, UK

Hands up all those who can envisage DNA being rolled up into this.

Keith, France,

You couldn't make it up. Some of Britain's most vetted & checked employees are to be forced to have a 'voluntary' card. It won't replace their current airport ID, but the information is to be held on a National Identity register that doesn't actually exist yet.
We're to spend £20 billion for a system to make it easier to open a bank account, something we do maybe 4 times in our entire lives.
Foreigners will have to have the cards. How will we know which ones are supposed to have one & which ones aren't?
Students are to be 'offered' them. And if they choose to turn down this kind offer, what then?

Is it me, or is this all complete madness?

Ross, Leeds,

I welcome the ID card. I am a British Citizen living in Greece and an ID card would be much easier to carry around than a passport for Banking and shopping identification.

Elaine Klironomos, SCOTLAND,

i understand (and have seen) that in switzerland they have their photo on their credit cards. how logical!

tom, poland,

You know what you can do with your identity cards...

Phill, The Wirral, England

Dear Jacqui,

I solemnly and publicly promise that:
• I shall not register for a national identity card
• I shall not supply personal details or fingerprints to a National Identity Register
• I shall not apply for any document or service if joining the National Identity Register is a condition of obtaining it
• I shall not co-operate with any Identity and Passport Service interview concerning my identity
I also promise by my example to encourage others to do the same.
I am not alone.
Oh and by the way unlike you and your NuLabour friends I KEEP my promises

Vince Robinson, Sheffield, England

The biggest threat to this is government mismanagement through incompetence and abuse. They have repeatedly let us down and will continue to do so in the future.

yogibear111, Galashiels, UK

I would usually want to bump my gums in outrage at the expansion of the surveillence-state, but there is light at the end of this tunnel...

Once (not if), the database is compromised and the cards easly forged, the relevance and power of this monitoring agent will dissolve from the inside, without any need for external protest.

As a security professional of 20+ years experience, I know that human nature always has a way of circumventing efforts to totally contain it.

Bruce Haig, Frankfurt am Main, EU

£5.6 BILLION on a scheme nobody (beyond Labour ministers) seems to want on and yet (as told elsewhere on this site today) Jodrell Bank may be closed with a running cost of 'just' £2.5 million, along with many other facilities due to STFC funding cuts. I know which I'd rather have.

Stephanie, London, England

When did Britain turn into a communist state? The identity cards are being introduced not because of the notion of terrorism on our doorstep but solely to control the masses, something that the government has longed for for some time now. If we dealt with the IRA without these cards why should it be any different with Al Qaeda?

Michael, Liverpool,

When did Britain turn into a communist state? Identity cards keeping us safe from terrorism? That's a lie if I ever heard one. Unfortunately where there is a will there is a way and a piece of plastic and names on a database will not stop people from blowing themselves up, afterall what use the database if they're dead? This scheme is put in place solely to control the masses, so much for a free capitalist state.

Michael, Walton,

I am a UK national who has lived and worked in Spain for 10 years. When I arrived it was compulsory to have an ID card which was also the taxcode to open up a bank account, as ID to double check payments in shops... It is no longer given out and upon my last renewal I just got a certificate confirming my ID no. I'm gutted! I loved having that ID card, credit card size. Much easier and smaller than a passport. The only difference is that the Spanish card only had a fingerprint, not all the biometric details, and costed the individual around ten pounds - more affordable for the average citizen. I'm all for ID cards, but do they need so much personal info and that it be that expensive??? Also, a passport here, biometric one can be issued on the spot in 20 minutes... I just got one for my son, and around 10 pounds too. Mine, via the embassy cost over 100 pounds and took weeks!!! Big difference!!

Kate, Tarragona, Spain

Why don't they just tattoo a name and number on everyone at birth and be done with it? This government won't be happy until everyone of us is being watched 24 hours a day so we can be fined for jaywalking and littering whilst real criminals are allowed to do what they want. Sorry about the rant.
That was my 'two minutes hate'.

Dick Platt, Nottingham, England

The only use of these cards isn't to prevent external terrorism - it's to keep tabs on the future homegrown rebels that the Powers fear will arise against the musrooming injustices that are being foisted upon our society.

Max, manchester,

I've yet to be shown any evidence that ID cards can provide a service to the people.

Anyone who thinks that the cards are a crime prevention tool hasn't thought about it enough.

So in summary this is just a way to increase revenue for the next 15 years without hiking taxes up. Whats the government overspending on? hmm let me think could it be...oh wait yes it is...the Olympics.

Daniel Housley, Manchester, Greater Manchester

Perhaps the first phase should include those at the heart of our countries security and infrastructure - central government employees (including MP/MSP's), local authority employees, central government funded (QUANGO) bodies and the like.....And to prevent 'misunderstandings' about funding anyone contributing to a political party's coffers should have one!

I bet that'd slow down the roll-out!

Chris, Edinburgh, UK

I gave £10 to http://www.no2id.net/ some time ago, who are campaigning against this (and they get very good media coverage, as you may have noticed) and are mounting a legal challenge on behalf of all of us. It's a very informative site, even if you don't want to give them money, it's worth reading the blogs etc. I'm amazed this harebrained idea is still going ahead, given the recent debacles where the government has lost our data. The ID cards will eventually have everything on there, from our medical data, our fingerprints, irises, and probably our DNA if they can get hold of it. ID cards did not prevent Madrid 11-M bombings, it would not prevent another 7/7, all it will do is cost a big heap of money, put the security of our own identity at serious risk, insurance brokers will be able to browse our health history, the police will hassle black and asian people even more (of course they will!), and of course it'll go miles over budget. SAY NO TO ID!!

Tristán White, London, UK

Quite honestly, I am having immense difficulty in following the logic behind people's aversion to the whole question of an ID card. So far as I am aware, millions of servicemen and women have always had ID cards; indeed it was (and presumably still is) a military offence not to have the card in your possession.

In my case, I live outside the UK but within the EU. Everybody has an ID card as a matter of course and nobody objects. Why should we Brits once again want to do things ''our way'' and once again be just downright difficult? (I think bolshy used to be the expression). Authorities at all levels know so much about us in any case. DHSS, doctors, local councils, schools,
universities, army, navy, airforce, driving licence authorities, insurance companies, banks, vehicle registration offices know all about us in any case. So where's the problem in carrying just another bit of plastic next to your pile of credit cards , customer cards etc?

ID Card supporter, Hamburg

Brian, Hamburg, Germany

ID cards will always be a bad idea. Anything which will stress the differences between us will cause greater conflict between groups. If you want an idea of how bad it can get, the Rwandan genocide of 1994 was largely down to the fact that Hutu and Tutsi (even though very similar in appearance) was written on identity cards. Giving the genocide perpetrators an easy way of identifying thier victims. ID cards are a step towards genocide, or heightened tensions between groups at least.

Nikolai Lucyk, S-O-T, Staffs

Anybody with half a brain can see that these 'advanced cards' will be copied and forgeries will be released by the end of this year.
Unless the cards are completely tamper proof, which I doubt.

L, Enfield,

Phil From NYC:
Its George Bush who is evil not the general US populace.
Its important you realise the government here is issuing these ID cards against the wishes of the majority of the UK populace. The other political parties have all pledged to scrap the scheme. I see a United States of Europe as a good thing.

MIke, Dundee, Angus

What a perfect way to spend our money ms smith! Those figures can be used to police the streets or to increase the polices wages, after all they are risking their lives everyday to keep you and our streets safe. Maybe it is a time for a change in the next general election!

Brian, London, UK,

Yes, its all very well saying that this wonderful card will open pandoras box and allow us all unreserved access to what we want e.g. bank account identifier, citizenship - UK national, doctors surgery, dentist, airport restricted area worker, hospital maternity ward, and so on.

Well I don't mind that because it helps life go on, but what will happen when the bloody thing goes wrong and I can't get money out of the bank and the airport immigration staff won't let me back into my own country?

How many years after I am dead will my details be erased from the 'system'?

What uis a foreign national under current legislation?

Refusing to turn up for an image or a scan will induce a fine. Why not indiuce people to turn up early and pay them cash in advance?

Weaver, China (Greater),

May be the home office will implant some electronic chips to the immigrants in the future.
Already UK is not the better place for Highly Skilled Immigrants with hsmp retrospective rules targeting the immigrants,points system,citizenship test,etc,etc, In fact it is not even for the highly skilled Brits as they are moving to Australia/US for better life.

Wolves, Wolverhampton, UK

Read this government's words carefully - and be afraid!

“Increasingly, we need to be able to prove our identity in a whole range of ways: when we’re travelling, when we’re opening a bank account or accessing government services,"

OR: "We will make it impossible for you to get a job or open a bank account UNLESS you have one of our cards"

Mike Bibby, St ALbans, England -not EU

For all the British talk about America being so evil, who're the people living with ID cards and under constant camera monitoring? Furthermore you have no control about losing your national sovereignity to Europe, lol

Labour are the real fascists. Your papers, please!

Phil, New York City,

The idea, we are told, is to provide everyone with a "proof of identity". We already have many ways of doing this - passports, utility bills, driving licenses, bank statements, chip and pin cards etc. All of these have been shown to be readily forged, where there is an incentive to do so. The new ID card simply provides a new "must have" target for the forgers, and it is ludicrous to imagine that they will not produce fake ID cards the instant it becomes worthwhile to do so.

Airport workers, supposedly first in line for the new cards, already have to carry identity cards, including a "facial image", or photograph to you and me. Why do these have to be replaced at great cost? Is this because they too can be forged, (we know they have been) or is it simply that they fail because no one bothers to look at them, as they will not look at the new ones either. Improved security? I do not think so.

Then add a huge new database whose security is guaranteed by this government...

Bob Hulley, Sonning, Berks

Don't they ever learn? Don't they even listen? This pathetic 'government' now seems to be in the terminal stages of brain failure. ID cards are a non-starter, and everyone with any sense knows it. Out with them! Out!

Nicholas Lee, Windsor, UK

The cosy relationship between the Government and monopoly airport operator BAA continues with the proposals for introducing ID cards to airport workers first. It begs the question whether BAA's 'support' for the scheme will be paid back with the green light for expansion at Heathrow and Stansted.

Carol Barbone, Stansted, England

How very Stalinist ! Brown and company are turning this island into a communist police state where they can track us all by CCTV on the streets and where they brainwash us with incessant media campaigns in our homes and offices. Once Labour have forced us into having all our personal details on goverment databases, they will probably come up with a scheme to control our thoughts. Very nice.

R.M., London, England