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I would bet that identity cards have to be back on the table.
For any measure of control over immigration, benefits, fraud, etc... there's going to have be a moment where the government figures out how to force a real count. A census isn't enough, it's got to be a real count, and kept accurate and up to date going forward.
I imagine that they could re-purpose the benefits system to lay the foundation of that. They already have parts of it... this is your card, without it you cannot claim, you must present it each time, etc.
The only way to have such a system be complete, and current, is to make it a part of life. Opening a bank account? Need your card. Claiming a pension? Need your card. Going to a hospital for a non-emergency? Need you card.
It'll be voluntary, until it's so pervasive that it can't be voluntary.
I'm not actually against an identity card, they work well in Sweden, Germany, etc. So long as they serve the people, they can be great. But of course, this is the UK, and we tend to make systems that serve governments and authority, not the people.
But yeah... I wouldn't read track record into anything. Brexit is an opportunity, the largest ever presented to a UK government (even superceding the end of WW2 as we have wealth and means now)... to reshape the country, constitution, institutions.
The Conservatives are not going to waste that chance, and it's a strong justification for moving fairly quickly (before the next general election) to define this and set it in motion.
Ultimately though, it's a boiling frog problem. How much can they get away with whilst keeping unity within the party and protecting their slim majority.
Velocio-
I don't see the point of an identify card when you have to bring utility bills, a passport and a payslip or some other proof for banks. It's enough to stop basic fraud and professional fraudsters know how to copy them anyway.
But to stop movement, again, make your agencies more competent and have enough staff, and frigging check intelligence, but it's easier to sell another plaster on the wound and pay through the nose for it to be set up by incompetents. The encryption on passports in NL was hacked BEFORE it was released and of course the gov went ahead anyway. (IT and gov, just no)
It may make sense for a census, but again...unregistered ppl (i hate the word illegals) gonna unregister.
[I have an allergy against all this as the Netherlands now has mandatory identification and fuck that]
I agree they're seeing this as an opportunity. The Tories could not lose with both a remain and brexit horse. I am surprised people didn't see through this. Or perhaps they thought it was worth it to take errr "take back control".
[needs a drink by now] :)
JWestland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Davis_%28British_politician%29
So this guy has to negotiate the exit. Strange mix of imho sensible views on identity cards/child benefit/EHRC with not for LGBT rights/likes capital punishment.
Unless he's changed his tune on those by now.