Former Home Secretary Rt Hon David Blunkett MP has described the publication of the Bill scrapping identity cards, as well as biometric passports and the fraud-proof National Identity Register, as a "tragic con on the electorate".
Mr Blunkett said: “The Deputy Prime Minister believed his own hyperbole when claiming that billions of pounds would be saved by scrapping the scheme, and that 3,000 additional police officers could then be afforded.
“I said at the time that this was economic illiteracy and this has now been proved to be the case. With a potential loss of hundreds of millions of pounds in fraud, the abuse of the free health service, in tackling illegal immigration and unauthorised working, it is clear that the £86 million over a four-year period, which the coalition claim they can save, could well turn out to be a considerable loss.
“In addition, whatever the hype from Nick Clegg and acquiescence from Theresa May, there is no great sweeping away of surveillance. I have a card which I have used for travel, and unlike my passport it cannot be forged. I have not revealed personal information beyond the passport requirements, and had no information transferred to others — unlike with credit cards, loyalty cards and the like.
“Mr Clegg and his colleagues are happy to reveal to US authorities on entry to America what they describe as ‘surveillance’ back home here. Visas will cost us dearly in the future, directly resulting from the scrapping of biometric passports. This policy is the worst kind of decision-making based on ignorance and not on fact, and will be revealed as such in years to come.”
ENDS
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