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.

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.

UK ID Card Bill struggles over first hurdle 29/06/2005
In a close vote last night, the Government succeeds in getting the biometric-ID card bill into the next stage of the Parliamentary process.

UK 'national identity register' is a national database of fingerprints 29/06/2005
A report released today reveals that the UK intends for the ID card scheme to be a national database of fingerprints.

UK ID Card Bill reintroduced - Business as Usual 25/05/2005
The UK Government has reintroduced the conversial Identity Cards Bill with very minor changes. PI analysis shows that the Government ignores all but 9 of 105 recommendations for reform of ID legislation.

UK ID Card Returns in Queen's Speech 17/05/2005
The Labour Government announced that it planned to reintroduce the National Identity Card Bill in the Queen's Speech on 17 May 2005.

UK ID Card Bill Dies 06/04/2005
The National ID card Bill has been dropped due to a lack of parliamentary time before the election, and because of opposition from within the House of Lords.

UK Parliamentary Select Committee finds serious faults with ID Bill 23/03/2005
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution has released a report outlining concerns with the constitutionality of the ID Cards Bill.

UK Parliamentary Committee still finds fault in ID Cards Bill 04/03/2005
In its Progress Report, the Joint Committee on Human Rights pinpoints dangers in the ID Card Bill, just as it is about to go to the Lords.

UK House of Commons Approves ID Card 11/02/2005
With less than half of MPs accounted for, the House of Commons has approved the National Identification Bill in record time. To see the debates, click here.

UK Parliamentary Human Rights Committee raises 'serious questions' on ID Bill 04/02/2005
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, with membership from the House of Lords and the House of Commons, released a report that 'raises concerns about the compatibility of provisions of the Bill with the right to respect for private life ... and the right to non-discrimination.'