There was a big backlash and they eventually caved in and cancelled the scheme when the government changed.

I lived in South London at the time and sent a letter to my MP to protest about the creation of a database state and increased surveillance, fundamentally changing the nature of the relationship between the citizen and the state.

About two months later I got a form response that started "Don't worry, it's not just an ID card, there will be a huge database behind it!"

Thanks. Way to show you didn't even read what I wrote.

I think in the intervening years that relationship has already fundamentally changed though. Privacy from government in most western countries seems to be something of a fading memory, it would be hard to make those same arguments in 2025.

The MPs never read anything. You got sent back one of a few pre-written replies by a secretary. I was stupid enough to reply to one of those replies once and never got anything back.

Yeah that’s the conclusion I came to as well. It’s really saddening when it’s shoved in your face like that.