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U.K. pushing through identity cards scheme

LONDON: The British government has been accused of using foreign nationals living in Britain as “guinea pigs” in a bid to push through its controversial identity cards scheme.

The criticism came after the government announced that from November, all foreigners from outside the European Union would be required to carry identity cards as a prelude to extending the scheme to all Britons in phases over the next 10 years. The scheme, which was first mooted in 2003 but held back following widespread criticism from across the political divide, has been revived on grounds of national security but as a concession to critics, it will now be introduced in phases, starting with non-E.U. nationals.

Moreover, British nationals who have biometric passports, containing sensitive personal details, would not be required to carry a separate ID card.

The Opposition and civil rights groups, however, called the concessions a “sop” and accused the government of pushing the country towards a “surveillance state” as the scheme would allow the government to acquire fingerprints and personal information of millions of Britons in the name of security.

The information would be put on a national register.

Critics said that given the government’s poor record on protecting personal data, having lost the records of some 25 million people last year, the scheme was fraught with danger. “Foreign nationals are being made guinea pigs in this dangerous scheme,” one rights activist said.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: “They have lost 25 million personal records. And they have lost the public’s trust. It’s time they faced up to these stark truths — and ditched ID cards for good.”

Shami Charkabarti, director of Liberty, said: “Yet another re-launch of the ID scheme looks suspiciously like a new sales pitch for the same bad product.”

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