'Botched' ID cards may not be possible for 20 years
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Government's planned ID card scheme may not be introduced fully for up to 20 years, according to leaked Whitehall memos from officials charged with making the project work.
In some of the correspondence officials express fears that the scheme could be "canned completely" and speak of a "botched operation" that will put the introduction back for a generation.
The emails suggest such serious difficulties in implementing the scheme that a smaller, "face-saving" version is the only way a 2008 target to phase in identity cards will be met, according to The Sunday Times. The scheme has been repeatedly cited as a cornerstone in the Government's fight against terrorism, crime and illegal immigration.
The Government has proposed that 50 million adults in the UK should carry the cards. These will include data such as fingerprints or iris scans and the information could be checked against a national database.
A voluntary scheme will operate from 2008, but a further Labour administration aims to make the cards compulsory for over-16s.
An exchange of emails between the Identity and Passport Service, set up by the Home Office to introduce the cards, and the project director, David Foord, at the Office of Government Commerce, indicates the Government is "rethinking" the scheme. This could mean gathering the data or storing it on a temporary register, but not storing it on cards.
The correspondence is reported to have been leaked by an official close to the Treasury.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments