The Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis MP, has today written to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell giving formal notice that an incoming Conservative Government would scrap the Government's ID card project.David has also asked what provision, if any, has been made in the relevant contractual arrangements to protect the Government - and public funds - against the costs that would be incurred as a result of early cancellation of the scheme.
A similar letter has also been sent to the likely major contractors warning them of our intentions.
This is the text of the letter to Sir Gus...
"I am writing to you in relation to the Government's planned roll outof its national identity card scheme, commencing this year. You will be aware that there is a long standing convention that one Parliament may not bind a subsequent Parliament.
As you will also be aware, the Conservative Party has stated publicly that it is our intention to cancel the ID cards project immediately on our being elected to government. You are now formally on notice of our position and fully appraised of the contingent risks and associated liabilities arising from the national identity card scheme.
In light of these risks, I urge you to consider very carefully the government's position, in advance of the roll-out of the scheme later this year. As a matter of financial prudence, it is incumbent upon you to ensure thatpublic money is not wasted, and contractual obligations are not incurred, investing in a scheme with such a high risk of not being implemented. In particular, I would be interested to know what provision, if any has, been made in the relevant contractual arrangements to protect the Government - and public funds - against the costs that would be incurred as a result of earlycancellation of the scheme.
The Conservatives will be a launching campaign against Labour's ID Cards proposals tomorrow."
Hat Tip: Iain Dale
5 comments:
Good news for you all.
I'm a conservative American hoping to that we can repeal our own REAL ID Act.
John R.
No,To ID Cards.Under this Labour Goverment we have become more of a Big Brother/Nanny State.I do not beleive we are a Police state but feel we are not far off it.Mick Sanders
What is this country coming to.I saw todays national news and now if you require a passport you must have a 20 minute interview.Also renewal for passports will have an interview and their fingerprints taken.What are we criminals!Along with ID cards,freedom and privacy has long gone.Bring Back the sixties and seventies.when life was so sweet!
So i have an interview for a passport come out of the office and give my passport to an professional forger.Who's going to know? Also you need a person of professional status to sign the appplication for a passport.IE Police Officer,Doctor,are we now be-littling their authority.Whatever,It just the same as ID Cards,Invasion of privacy and Big Brother and this labour govermant should go!
Privacy has now gone it is all Big Brother.I have never known a goverment focusing on the nanny state issues.Where has the freedom gone for UK citizens
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