Background Information

Background on The UK Entitlement Card 27/06/2003
In September 2001, following the tragic events in the United States, Home Secretary David Blunkett said that the government was "very seriously" considering introducing a card. He told The Guardian, "I am giving it a fairly high priority. It would be quite wrong to make a snap announcement when we have not had the chance to think through the implications. There are much broader issues about entitlement and citizenship and not just security to be considered." The Observer reported on 30 September that an mandatory ID card will be introduced, "to use public services, including schools and hospitals, under plans being drawn up by the Home Office."

ID cards in the UK FAQ 22/07/2002
On July 3rd, 2002, the UK Government published a consultation paper on a national identity card. Privacy International has investigated such proposals across the world for more than a decade. Here, we answer all the questions the government has failed to answer.

History of ID Cards in the United Kingdom 01/01/1997
During World War II, a national ID card was established to facilitate identification of aliens. Persons were required to carry the card at all times and show it on demand to police and members of the armed forces...

News and Developments

UK Home Secretary Attacks PI Director for ID Card Report 29/06/2005
The Home Secretary went on the radio to dismiss a report from the London School of Economics by attacking PI Director Simon Davies.

UK Identity Cards Bill (Take 2) Regulatory Impact Assessment -- 5.8 bn later 01/06/2005
The RIA for the Identity Cards Bill admits that the scheme will cost, at a minimum, 5.84 billion pounds over ten years, and 93 pounds per person. We have archived the RIA.

Academic Report Finds Significant Flaws in UK ID Plan (external) 21/03/2005
A report from the London School of Economics released on 21 March has found that the UK Government's ID Card Bill is 'too complex, technically unsafe, overly prescriptive and lack a foundation of public trust and confidence'. The ID card bill is currently having a 2nd reading at the House of Lords.

Privacy International Statement on Tory Support of ID Card 13/12/2004
Privacy International today accused the UK Shadow Cabinet of perpetrating “an offence against democracy of historic proportions” by agreeing to vote with the government on the controversial Identity Cards Bill. PI predicted that the democratic deficit now created would spark a huge campaign of opposition to the ID scheme. See PI’s comprehensive overview of the ID legislation.

UK Home Office announces next steps on ID cards 27/10/2004
The Home Secretary announces a mandatory universal ID card, promising that it would protect the UK against illegal migration and working, organised crime, terrorist activity, identity theft, and fraudulent access to public services.

UK ID Card moving forward despite significant opposition 27/10/2004
The Home Office releases a summary of the consultation on ID cards that shows serious concerns regarding the proposed ID card system, and misinformation on the benefits.

UK Information Commissioner Warns of ID Cards and Surveillance Society 16/08/2004
The Information Commissioner today warned that the UK could "sleepwalk into a surveillance society" due to various surveillance proposals currently on the table.

UK Passport Offices Rules that No More Smiling Permitted 05/08/2004
"As part of the ongoing fight against fraud and international terrorism" the UK Passport office announces new standards for photographs for passports, including that Britons can no longer smile. This is in order to promote the failed technology of facial recognition.

Biometric Passports to Pay for UK ID Cards, says Blunkett 20/07/2004
Confirming our concerns regarding biometric passports, UK Home Secretary David Blunkett confirmed that the pricing of the ID cards are contingent on the biometric passport, which is a requirement of the U.S. Government, and being pushed by the UN-level International Civil Aviation Organization. This is likely to be a model for other countries as costs issues are resolved.

Blair ID card trashed at public meeting 21/05/2004
A public meeting organised by PI and associate organisations gave a resounding vote of no-confidence in the government's plan to introduce a national Identity Card.

UK Home Office to Push National ID Card 06/07/2003
A leaked letter from Home Secretary David Blunkett to the Deputy Prime Minister reveals that the Home Secretary has decided to push forward a national ID card for all Britons over 16.

UK Governmernment to Ignore ID Card Opposition 05/06/2003
In response to several Parliamentary Questions, the UK Government has revealed that the 5,000 anti-Entitlement Card email submissions sent via the Stand.org.uk website were to be "counted in the same way as other inspired samples or surveys of opinion which by their nature cannot be representative of the population as a whole".

Legal and Policy Developments

UK Government narrowly wins ID card bill 30/03/2006
After a near-constitutional crisis, with the House of Lords rejecting the bill on five separate occasions, the UK Government now has a voluntary biometric identity card that will be issued some time in 2008.

UK Government wins narrow majorities on ID Card Bill 14/02/2006
Overturning the amendments to the Bill from the House of Lords, the House of Commons voted to support the proposed national identity scheme.

UK Government loses another crucial vote on ID Card Bill 23/01/2006
Today the House of Lords dealt another blow to the Home Office and it's Identity Card Bill. The Lords ensured that, in accordance with election promises, the ID card will be voluntary. Any move to be compulsory will require an act of Parliament.

UK Government loses crucial votes on ID card 17/01/2006
Last night the Government lost three votes in the House of Lords, providing setbacks for the proposed biometric identity card scheme.

UK ID Card bill barely survives Commons, again 19/10/2005
Last night the House of Commons narrowly approved the Identity Cards bill, with the Government's majority more than halved.