Church of Scotland Deems Blair's ID Cards "A Threat"

The Church of Scotland has spoken out against the government’s proposed introduction of identity cards after the bill secured only a small minority on its second reading in the House of Commons last night.

Tony Blair saw his majority on the issue slashed from 67 to just 31, with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives also opposing the plans.

During prime minister’s questions, Mr Blair responded to the result saying "We will have to listen to those concerns and respond to them."

Blair was keen, however, to highlight the possible benefits from the introduction of secure ID cards in the UK, arguing that they are vital to help tackle organised crime, terrorism and illegal immigration.

He also defended the plans, arguing that they are an inevitable development:
"There are good reasons for doing this now, because of the change to technology, the fact that we will have to pay for biometric passports and the ID card part of it is a very small additional cost."

Others are not so sure about the ‘small additional cost’, however. The London School of Economics’ Identity Project Report has estimated the ID card scheme could cost £19bn – three times the government estimate.

The Church of Scotland, meanwhile, which already agreed at its General Assembly to urge the government to "reconsider" its plans, has raised concerns over the safeguarding of civil liberties under the scheme.

Morag Mylne, convenor of the Kirk’s Church and Society Council, has come out against the introduction of Blair’s ID cards, pointing to the practical difficulties in its implementation:
"This week, even the Prime Minister has been unable to offer any indication of the cost of the scheme, or how much individuals might be charged for the cards. Opposition to ID cards is being heard in more and more quarters, both politically and in the country at large."

The Church’s view reflects those being voiced elsewhere in society. Information Commissioner Richard Thomas commented that the cards "risk an unnecessary and disproportionate intrusion into individuals’ privacy."

Mylne went on to question more specifically the trustworthiness of such a scheme for the socially vulnerable vis a vis the state: "The imposition of ID cards represents a particular threat to the vulnerable and socially excluded groups. The greatest fear I have about ID cards, however, remains the implication of a fundamental change in the relationship between the individual and the state. The Church would reiterate its view that citizens should not be required to justify themselves to the government in this way, unless they have done something wrong. Otherwise, we risk losing a valuable part of our democracy."

Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said that the report "should be the final nail in the coffin for Labour’s identity card proposals."

The bill still faces likely opposition as it moves into the committee phase as well as tough opposition from the Lords.