How can Gordon Brown justify £5.3 billion for ID cards?

[eleusis]

Let the bidding commence

How is he going to pay for this? And why why why is it necessary?

£5.3 billion!! And we all know these things are never in budget. God help us.

He's such a twunt.

That is a huge IF, Fio. It will cost a fortune and it will not do much to increase our security.

I am all for sacrificing some civil liberties in the name of the war on terrorism. But, this card will not acieve that.

Just think how much happier we'd be if they gave that £53bil to maternity services.

We've got them here in Switzerland - no big deal. You have to produce it on demand. So what? More useful if they could be combined with driving licence, health care, social insurance, etc. Apart from the cost, don't understand what all the fuss is about.

Forget the cost, how can ID cards themselves be justified?

How on earth is this scheme actually supposed to stop terrorists? Seriously. If it was compulsary and people were regularly stopped and asked to identify themselves then it might, perhaps. But let's not forget that the last few major terrorist incidents have involved people legally living and working in this country who would not have raised any suspicions through this scheme.

Surely anyone with any intelligence can see that it is a deeply flawed scheme. And whatever his faults, Gordon Brown is not unintelligent, which makes me question what the real reasons for introducing identity cards are.

I jyst admit, I object to paying for them, given that I have just shelled out the best part of 200 quid for 3 passports, 2 of which will expire in 5 years

Eh? They're not compulsory? Then what's the point?

Exactly, sauce

Sauce, how can you say "apart from the cost.." like that is some minor point when we are talking about tens of billions of pounds. Surely there is a better use for that money.

Fio, what other purpose are they intended to serve?

How much money does your local school need?
How much money does the local hospital need?
How much money would it take to fund higher education for those who can't otherwise afford it?
How much money does the pulic transport system need?

The list goes on. Some one point out why this money should go to ID cards.

Oh, and just wait until the economy falls (and it will -- can't ride high forever), and then we have to pay for this stupid scheme. What do you think will happen. Well, Gordon will raise taxes OF COURSE... as he does.

They will become compulsory when we're all used to the idea.

That's outrageous! What a criminal waste of money.

It shouldn't have to cost billions of £s & it should be compulsory.

Oh it;s outrageous, we don't NEED THEM!

I would change who I vote for based on what they do about id cards, completley agree with you LL

They WON'T stop terrorism.

And, let's talk about the collection and maintenance for therather exptensive list of data which they intend to collect. Who is going to collect it? Who is going to store it? What happens when someone hacks into the dataabase and the details are posted on the internet? Will the government take responsibility? Or will they wash their hands and say, oh not our fault it was contracted to BT, IBM, Accenture, whomever gets the job.

And how is the data going to be maintained, say when the person moves house?

The system is unworkable, unafordable, and will not serve it's purpose.

The only way I see to stop it is to vote labour out. Tories, Lib Dems, I don't care. Just PLEASE vote against Labour.

It's such an infringment of civil liberty

Or EDS, and let's not forget what fk ups they've made of various govt contracts

What data will ID Cards store?

I completely understand you being on your hobby horse, LL. I'm British but haven't paid much attention so far because of living in Switzerland. What you're describing is insane & were I living in the UK I'd be foaming at the mouth in rage.

lol LL, absolutely.
And we're not THAT far off targetted advertising, where did I read about that the other day? WIll see if I can find it.