Delusion

I believe there is a demand, now, for cards - and as I go round the country I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long

Those are the words of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today as she announced a pre-registration scheme for ID cards for early next year and a trial of ID cards at Manchester and City for later next year.

She is clearly deluded.

What out the hoards of people who have been telling here they don't want ID cards? It is insulting to our intelligence that she thinks that by keep telling us that some people want ID cards we will all fall into line and support their introduction.

When will the Government learn that it can admit mistakes.  I thought that after heavy election defeats over the last year the Government were now meant to be listening to what it was being told. Exactly who are they listening to? Are they paying any attention to what they are hearing?

The Labour Government have been given an easy route out of the whole ID cards mess with the credit crisis. An announcement that they are to be shelved because, at this time of uncertainty, the costs can not be justified would be welcomed and appreciated. It would also blunt a huge source of expenditure savings that the Tories and Lib Dems have planned. But somewhere in the Labour Party the calculation has been made that they need to appear tough on terrorism and the policy will backfire on the opposition parties. I really do wonder whether the Government are banking on there being a terrorist incident before any general election so they can so 'I told you so'.

I just don't get it. A voluntary ID card system is not wanted and would not be successful. It will cost a fortune and right now the electorate is surely in no mood to have to pay for the 'privilege' of carrying these ID cards personally.

So Jacqui Smith, are you really listening? If so, drop the plans for ID cards...