Government push ahead with Identity Cards

Despite the current financia crisis and the threat of cuts across public services, the Government is still determined to roll out their costly Identity Cards.

Manchester has been selected as the pilot area this autumn.

Local residents who want an ID card can apply for it online and then attend the city's passport office, for fingerprinting, photograph and a possible interview, but cannot register the card at local shops or post offices.

In 2010, students opening bank accounts will be "offered" ID cards along with the chance to get themselves into debt by signing up for a credit card.

Interesting only students are being targeted in 2010. No doubt Labour would be to concerned about targeting non-students, worried about losing their votes.

If Labour wins the next election, it will allows MPs a vote on whether ID cards should be compulsory for all UK citizens over the age of 16, depending on the success of pilot projects. There will now be three databases instead of one.

Identity fraud costs the UK £1.7bn a year, according to the Home Secretary, but ID cards will cost £5 billion according to Home Office figures, and between £10bn and £20bn according to the London School of Economics.

To encourage people to sign up, the cost will be capped at £30 for two years, according to the BBC, and will then rise to £60.

Given this Government's record with databases, I don't trust them to deliver ID cards safely. I don't believe they will be worth the money and I believe that criminals will be able to get round them.

It is far more important we refurbish our crumbling state schools, increase funding for the emergency services and spent money on public transport (and in London, that means improving transport in South London. Too much work citywide only took place because of the 2012 Olympics. In Manchester, tram extension work is also needed.)

Besides, ID cards won't be much of a protection when our courts are still handing out soft sentences to vermin.

Join No2ID and oppose ID cards. Meetings are taking place next week in Winchester and Lanarkshire, with meetings in Derby, Hackney and Kingston upon Thames the week after. Find your nearest group here.

Labour don't deserve to win the next election. I'll be voting Liberal Democrat, as the Tories will be as bad if they get in.