Home Secretary, is “identity theft” unknown in countries that already have identity cards?
If it isn’t, then how will Britain’s ID cards solve that problem? (A problem that is, in any case, vastly smaller than you claim.)
You now say that ID cards will be “voluntary”. Doesn’t that compromise their (putative) effectiveness?
And if the case for ID cards is so compelling – as you insist it remains – why has your government been backtracking on the matter?
You argue that you are “committed to delivering them more quickly to the people who will benefit most”. Previously this was everyone. Who “needs” them “most”? Or, to put it another way, who doesn’t need an ID card? Who will benefit least from an ID card?
You say that you are “pleased that the government will be looking at bringing forward proposals for pensioners aged 75 and over to receive an identity card free of charge.”
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