Reference Material

National campaign website. Good resources for
opposing ID Cards and the database state

In April 2005, the Government had to drop its first Identity Cards Bill
because of lack of time. NO2ID nationally produced a very readable
Q&A feature and Liberty produced a simplified summary.

The revised Bill looked very similar; see also its Notes for Guidance.
Having failed to win other arguments, the government then hyped
the case for ID cards as 'Identity Fraud'. Read John Lettice's critique.

For a good general (and wisely cynical) guide to ID cards,
we can recommend The Complete ID Card Guide ,
also on The Register website.

Privacy International have also produced a very readable
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on ID cards in the UK.

Statewatch - lots of research on
current legal/civil liberties issues.

International Campaign Against
Mass Surveillance (ICAMS)

Official sources

Home Office ID (watch out for spin)

UK Parliament official website.
Information on MPs, debates, legislation
NB Royal Assent given 30.03.06.

Read or download the Identity Cards Act 2006
(PDF, 217kB of government-speak)

'They Work For You' website.
Information on MP voting records, debates,

The European perspective (new URL). The UK is following
the eEurope and i2010 blueprint for smart cards.

Date this page updated: 14 April 2006