A campaign group against government waste has called on
the government to cut its losses and scrap the compulsoryID card scheme.
"The money they have wasted so far is insignificant compared to
the billions that will be squandered if they go ahead with the ID
scheme," said Matthew Elliot, chief executive of the
Tax
Payers Alliance. "It is better they scrap it now. We just hope
they are brave enough to do the right thing."
Critics say it will cost £5.5bn to complete the IT card scheme,
according to the latest government
figures
released in May 2007.
Ministers have played down reports that compulsory ID cards for
all Britons are to be scrapped, in favour of other measures in next
week's Queen's Speech.
Cabinet minister Peter Hain told the BBC it was "not true" that
the scheme was being put on the backburner. Meanwhile, Security
Minister Lord West said he was "not aware" of any plans to "go
cold" on universal ID cards. Home Office minister Tony McNulty told
Sky News: "As far as I am aware universal ID cards remain on the
agenda".
The government still has time to save face, insisted Elliot.
They could even spin the withdrawal in their favour. "Imagine all
the taxes that could be scrapped if they scrapped this scheme."