Identity cards set for axe

The Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition government is to scrap the identity cards trialled in Greater Manchester.

Scores of people have already paid £30 for their card which also doubled as a passport across Europe.

Axing the controversial scheme was a key manifesto commitment from both the Conservatives and Lib-Dems.

Yesterday, a document setting out agreements made between the two parties after they spent five days thrashing out policy concessions to form a coalition, confirmed the cards would be scrapped. Anyone holding a card can still use it for identification, banking and travel within Europe.

A message posted on the Identity and Passport Service website urged anyone considering an application to wait for further announcements.

It said: “Both parties that now form the new Government stated in their manifestos that they will cancel identity cards and the National Identity Register. We will announce in due course how this will be achieved.

“Applications can continue to be made for ID cards but we would advise anyone thinking of applying to wait for further announcements. Until Parliament agrees otherwise, identity cards remain valid and as such can still be used as an identity document and for travel within Europe.”

Critics of the identity and passport scheme were likely to lash out at the enormous amount of money spent so far on the abortive project.

The Tories branded the scheme an expensive “white elephant” while the Liberal Democrats said Whitehall could not be trusted with the personal data.

The cards were made available to those living in Greater Manchester at the end of November.

In the first four months, more than 2,400 people have applied for a card and more than 1,200 have been issued.

Labour introduced the card which they said provides a secure and convenient way for people to prove their identity whether they are travelling in Europe or buying age-restricted goods.