My name is Steve Wallis. I have campaigned against ID cards since late 2002, within my socialist alliance and the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association as well as distributing leaflets to members of the public.

The New Labour government is proposing to introduce ID cards. They would contain some sort of biometric information such as iris scans or fingerprints (none of which are foolproof).

Whereas ID cards would be voluntary at first, they may be required to leave the country, access basic services like health care, get a job or work with children. They may also be required to be shown whenever a football fan attends a match. It may not be required to show an ID card on demand to the police at first, but this could change once the ID cards are in place.

ID cards would fail to significantly combat crime or ‘terrorism’ since criminals would easily be able to forge the cards or obtain ID cards for other people illegally. The real purpose is to increase the surveillance of socialists and other left-wing activists.

Huge fines (of £1000 or £2500) could be issued to those who fail to comply with every detail of the scheme. This may deter people with jobs from resisting but unemployed people could not possibly be fined so much. Other activists could therefore organise resistance by supporting unemployed people with mass demos outside courts where unemployed people appear for defying the law.

My position on ID cards (including a resolution), proposing resistance if the proposal is implemented, is described in a message that you can read by clicking here.

Massive resistance forced the Australian government to abandon plans for ID cards in 1987 – we can do the same here!