Post
by macliam » Tue Jan 17 2023 3:57pm
I would support the introduction of ID cards.... given that they are like those in EU countries and cost as little. The last "attempt" was ridiculous overkill and a cash-cow for the government - IIRC there was talk of an £85 fee.
ID cards would enable some measure of control over the black economy and reduce the plethora of IDs required day-in, day-out.
For those who oppose ID cards, I'd like to know if they also oppose Passports, Drivers Licenses, Bank cards, credit cards, the NI number and NHS number and the many many other IDs that we use regularly. What do you think an ID card would hold that is not held already? If these people use Social media, then they have already lost control of their data......
FWIW, SWMBOs Portuguese ID card is the size of a credit card, carries her Photo and signature and also acts as the equivalent of an NI card and NHS card. It costs c.£20 every 5 years, the whole application process (including photo) is done at a local agency and the card is delivered within 21 days. When she required a Passport (as the UK government decided that the ID card she had used for the last 30 years was insufficient) all the relevant data was already on her ID card, so application was simple, relatively cheap and again, the Passport was available in a couple of weeks.
Of course..... Portugal isn't as efficient as the UK, eh?
Just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get me