ID cards losing support with the public as costs rise

9.47.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Jun 2005

A new ICM poll, which found that only 55% of the population support the scheme - compared with the 80% cited by the government. This fall is mainly due to the escalating costs of the ID cards, now at almost £100 and suggested to rise to £300 per person (by academics at the London School of Economics).

The Liberal Democrats have opposed the ID card proposals ever since they were first announced and hope to force the government to drop the bill.

The ICM poll, which was commissioned by the opposition NO2ID campaign, found that 43% see the scheme as a "bad" or "very bad" idea. Respondents were asked for their opinion on the introduction of ID cards, bearing in mind that they would cost around £93 in combination with a passport.

According to the Guardian newspaper a Home Office spokesman admitted it was the rising cost that was resulting in less public support by saying "The £93 figure is the unit cost of issuing a combined passport and identity card package valid for 10 years. Support for ID cards has always been strong - around 81% in previous ICM polls. It is only when a figure of £93 is mentioned that support appears to go down."