ID Cards

I was recently asked what my views were on ID cards for a sixth form school project. Here are the questions and my answers below:
1. Are you in favour of the introduction of ID cards?

I do not support the introduction of ID cards as I believe that they strip citizens of their liberty and erode the concept of mutual responsibility. There is also huge potential for abuse of the system, with identity theft being one of the principal concerns.

2. Do you think that ID cards will fundamentally alter the balance of power between the state and citizens?

Yes, I think that by permitting the state to monitor its citizens’ every move is potentially very dangerous as it allows for this knowledge to be abused. Citizens will also resent the increased intrusion into their private lives.

3. Do you agree or disagree with the opinion that a National Identity Card Scheme will act as a deterrent to terrorists?

In my view, ID cards would not stop terrorists. In countries like Spain where all citizens carry ID cards by law, terrorists were not deterred. The issue of terrorism much wider than a national issue, it has no respect for national borders and tackling terrorism requires much broader policy measures than spending a £19m of public money on the ID card scheme.

4. Do you think ID cards will help combat illegal immigration and illegal workers?

I do not think ID cards will stop illegal immigration and illegal workers, as there will also be a market for falsified documents within illegal immigration rings, in the same way that there is now for passports. Rather than using ID cards to reduce illegal immigration, we should invest more improving the security procedures used at entry points to the UK.