The poll questioned participants using the Government’s current
figures for the cost of the card and passport combined – £93.
Earlier polls had used the then predicted lower cost of £85 for the
combined card and passport.
Critics predict that costs will go even higher. A report by the
London School of Economics leaked last month and due to be
published shortly, puts the costs at as much as £300 per
person.
"We are unsurprised at this clear evidence of growing public
scepticism,” said Phil Booth, NO2ID National Coordinator. “The
Government knows from international experience that public support
for
ID
cards falls drastically as people discover more
about them, which is why they have been so eager to steamroller the
legislation through Parliament.”
The survey of 1,000
UK
adults shows that 43% of the
population now thinks that
ID
cards are a bad or very
bad idea. In the December
ICM
poll only 17% of those
surveyed thought that
ID
cards were a bad idea or a
very bad idea.
The
ID
Card Bill was reintroduced into Parliament
several weeks ago, and is likely to be given a rough reception in
the House of Commons. First time round, those opposed to the Bill
had sufficient support to ensure that it ran out of time in the run
up to the General Election on 5th May. The Government is likely to
find its task even more difficult this time in view of Labour’s
reduced majority.
Many Labour
MP
s are uneasy about the Bill and the
Liberal Democrats have pledged to oppose it. The Conservative party
has so far given a mixed response to the proposals, first voting in
favour, then abstaining in a second vote.
"Now that the opposition parties are against the Bill, Labour
MP
s would do well to note the growing discontent in
the country – or they could find themselves voting for what will
become Labour's Poll Tax,” warned Booth.
