£5billion ID card scheme is abolished

The £5billion national identity card scheme trialled across Greater Manchester will be scrapped within 100 days.

Home Secretary Theresa May said abolishing the cards and associated registrations will be the first piece of legislation introduced to Parliament.

The cards cost £30 and were valid as a form of identity along with being able to travel within Europe. The Identity Documents Bill, published yesterday, will invalidate all existing cards, Mrs May said.

The cards were made available to people living in Greater Manchester at the end of November. In the first four months, more than 2,400 people have applied for a card and more than 1,200 have been issued.

The Government claimed the move will save £86million over four years and avoid £800million in costs that would have been covered by fees.

Ms May said: “This bill is the first step of many that this Government is taking to reduce the control of the State over decent, law-abiding people and hand power back to them.

“With swift Parliamentary approval, we aim to consign identity cards and the intrusive ID card scheme to history within 100 days.”


Former home secretary David Blunkett said today he was considering suing the Government for the £30 cost of his ID card. Mr Blunkett first announced plans for ID cards in 2003.