It’s arguable whether ID cards could help to either deter illegal immigration or persuade Reform-curious voters to swing back to Labour (Digital ID cards would be good for Britain – and a secret weapon for Labour against Reform, 9 June). On the first, actors in the informal economy are adept at getting around new mechanisms. On the second, a canny political operator like Nigel Farage is just as likely to turn any such move to Labour’s disadvantage.
Maybe the benefits of ID cards would outweigh the costs if they could be introduced at the flick of a switch. But the cost and effort would be huge. (The costings produced by Labour Together look more than optimistic.) So, ID cards might be a “nice-to-have” if the government was on an even keel, with the luxury of time and resources to spare – but it isn’t. The government needs to be much better at focusing finite resources – especially delivery expertise – on the problems that really matter (the NHS, housing, schools) and stop wasting time on things that don’t.
Simon Rew
London
