Letter: Who needs identity cards?

NEAL Ascherson seems to be part of the generally acquiescent attitude in much of the media that identity cards will become compulsory in Britain before too long ("The art of vanishing and why the English needn't fear identity cards", 14 May).

Mr Ascherson dismisses the whole affair by saying that Britain is full of "sturdy vagabonds", thereby invoking Dickensian images of cheeky cutpurses always ready to cock a snook at authority. As an example of how it is possible to cheat the ID police, he cites the case of an ex-SS officer in post-war Germany, of all people, of all places. I would expect that many ex-Nazis were able to do a similar thing, in connivance with half the population of Germany, since the Nazi party had more than just a few dozen members. Britain is thankfully not yet in the same position.

He ignores the fact that there has been no evidence, or even arguments, in favour of ID cards produced by the Government. He does not question why we need them, or what problems they will solve. He ignores the threats to all our freedoms, particularly minorities', from what is an increasingly authoritarian and intrusive state.

There needs to be a reasoned and wide-ranging public debate about ID cards. We need to discuss what are they for, who are they for and how the quality of life will realistically be improved by them.

Steve Brammeld

Stafford, Staffs