This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8128082.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
ID scheme is an 'embarrassment' ID scheme is an 'embarrassment'
(about 2 hours later)
The government's handling of the ID cards scheme has been a "national embarrassment", the former shadow home secretary David Davis has said.The government's handling of the ID cards scheme has been a "national embarrassment", the former shadow home secretary David Davis has said.
Mr Davis said the project was "dying a death of a thousand cuts" after plans to make cards compulsory for some airport workers were dropped.Mr Davis said the project was "dying a death of a thousand cuts" after plans to make cards compulsory for some airport workers were dropped.
But he complained the National Identity Register - for which he said there was "no need" - was still going ahead.But he complained the National Identity Register - for which he said there was "no need" - was still going ahead.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson insisted ministers were committed to ID cards.Home Secretary Alan Johnson insisted ministers were committed to ID cards.
On Tuesday, Mr Johnson announced that plans to make them compulsory for pilots and airside workers at Manchester and London City airports would be cancelled.On Tuesday, Mr Johnson announced that plans to make them compulsory for pilots and airside workers at Manchester and London City airports would be cancelled.
Unions had campaigned vociferously against the trial.Unions had campaigned vociferously against the trial.
As a result of Mr Johnson's announcement, foreign nationals living and working in the UK will be the only group of people who will have to have the cards, with 50,000 already having been issued.As a result of Mr Johnson's announcement, foreign nationals living and working in the UK will be the only group of people who will have to have the cards, with 50,000 already having been issued.
The Tories and Lib Dems want the £5bn scheme scrapped altogether, while some Labour MPs have expressed doubts about its cost.The Tories and Lib Dems want the £5bn scheme scrapped altogether, while some Labour MPs have expressed doubts about its cost.
Fail to notifyFail to notify
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Davis - a leading critic of the project - said the scheme was effectively finished in the wake of the home secretary's statement.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Davis - a leading critic of the project - said the scheme was effectively finished in the wake of the home secretary's statement.
But he queried why the proposed National Identity Register was still going ahead.But he queried why the proposed National Identity Register was still going ahead.
Alan Johnson: "I want ID cards to be voluntary"Alan Johnson: "I want ID cards to be voluntary"
Under draft legislation due to be approved by the Commons, passports will be considered a "designated document" under the scheme - meaning anyone applying for a passport from 2011 will have their data added to the databases.
As part of the regulations, a fine of up to £1,000 will be levied on those who fail to notify authorities of a change of address.As part of the regulations, a fine of up to £1,000 will be levied on those who fail to notify authorities of a change of address.
Mr Davis added: "What's wrong is that the data is there in the first place. There is no need for a national identity register.Mr Davis added: "What's wrong is that the data is there in the first place. There is no need for a national identity register.
"Why do you need to have a government ID card to get around in your normal life? Most of us get by fine without it.""Why do you need to have a government ID card to get around in your normal life? Most of us get by fine without it."
Announcing the shift in policy on Tuesday, Mr Johnson insisted he was committed to the scheme, which he said would would help stop illegal working, people trafficking and identity fraud.Announcing the shift in policy on Tuesday, Mr Johnson insisted he was committed to the scheme, which he said would would help stop illegal working, people trafficking and identity fraud.
"Holding an identity card should be a personal choice for British citizens - just as it is now to obtain a passport," Mr Johnson said."Holding an identity card should be a personal choice for British citizens - just as it is now to obtain a passport," Mr Johnson said.
Although ID cards were initially promoted as an anti-terror measure, Mr Johnson said they should not have been sold as the "panacea for tackling terrorism" which he said had been responsible for "messing up" the debate.Although ID cards were initially promoted as an anti-terror measure, Mr Johnson said they should not have been sold as the "panacea for tackling terrorism" which he said had been responsible for "messing up" the debate.
He also said the national roll-out of the voluntary scheme was being speeded-up - with London to get them a year early in 2010 and over-75s to get free cards.He also said the national roll-out of the voluntary scheme was being speeded-up - with London to get them a year early in 2010 and over-75s to get free cards.
'Bind the hands''Bind the hands'
In recent years, the government insisted it would not make them compulsory for UK citizens without giving MPs a vote on the issue - and it would not be compulsory to carry them.In recent years, the government insisted it would not make them compulsory for UK citizens without giving MPs a vote on the issue - and it would not be compulsory to carry them.
But it had been planned to make them compulsory for all 200,000 airside workers from 2009 but instead the government announced there would be an 18-month trial, for airside workers at Manchester and London City airports only.But it had been planned to make them compulsory for all 200,000 airside workers from 2009 but instead the government announced there would be an 18-month trial, for airside workers at Manchester and London City airports only.
This is another nail in the coffin for the government's illiberal ID cards policy Chris HuhneLiberal DemocratsThis is another nail in the coffin for the government's illiberal ID cards policy Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats
But the pilots union Balpa had complained that its members had effectively been forced into signing up for the cards.But the pilots union Balpa had complained that its members had effectively been forced into signing up for the cards.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the proposed ID cards would now be "nothing more than a second-rate passport".Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the proposed ID cards would now be "nothing more than a second-rate passport".
"This is another nail in the coffin for the government's illiberal ID cards policy, which will soon be so voluntary that only Home Office mandarins seeking promotion will have them," Mr Huhne added."This is another nail in the coffin for the government's illiberal ID cards policy, which will soon be so voluntary that only Home Office mandarins seeking promotion will have them," Mr Huhne added.
"These expensive and intrusive plans should be ditched now.""These expensive and intrusive plans should be ditched now."
However, in a statement, the campaign group No2ID said the "humiliating climbdown" was not the end of the scheme.However, in a statement, the campaign group No2ID said the "humiliating climbdown" was not the end of the scheme.
"It's just part of the ongoing attempt by senior Home Office officials to fortify the scheme against cancellation and to bind the hands of a future government," the statement added."It's just part of the ongoing attempt by senior Home Office officials to fortify the scheme against cancellation and to bind the hands of a future government," the statement added.
The rollout of the ID card scheme will be accelerated on a voluntary basis for UK citizens, starting in Greater Manchester by the end of the year.The rollout of the ID card scheme will be accelerated on a voluntary basis for UK citizens, starting in Greater Manchester by the end of the year.
Residents in other locations in the North West of England will be able to apply from early 2010, while the government's intention is to roll out the scheme in London in the same year - 12 months early.Residents in other locations in the North West of England will be able to apply from early 2010, while the government's intention is to roll out the scheme in London in the same year - 12 months early.
Some 3,500 UK citizens have already applied for the cards.Some 3,500 UK citizens have already applied for the cards.
But the Tories - who say they will scrap the scheme if they win the next general election - have written to five firms bidding to supply ID cards warning them not to sign any long-term contracts.But the Tories - who say they will scrap the scheme if they win the next general election - have written to five firms bidding to supply ID cards warning them not to sign any long-term contracts.