Voters split on ID card plans, poll reveals

VOTERS are split over the government’s plan for a national identity card, a poll published today shows.

Some 61 per cent of people back the plan, but nearly 28 per cent say they feel so strongly opposed they would join street marches to protest, and six per cent claim they would be willing to go to jail rather than carry a compulsory card.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by Privacy International, a civil rights group, also reveals that 16 per cent of respondents say they would take part in "civil disobedience" against David Blunkett’s controversial cards.

"Millions of people are prepared to break the law, go to prison, or take to the streets to fight the initiative," said Simon Davies, director of Privacy International.

Resistance to the card is highest among the young: 34 per cent of under-30s say they are "strongly opposed".

Mr Blunkett, the Home Secretary, last month won approval to start testing an ID card system, despite doubts from ministers including Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary.

A nationwide card is planned for 2007, and could become mandatory two years later.

Labour MPs have raised doubts about the decision to go ahead after The Scotsman revealed earlier this week that before the decision to proceed with the scheme was taken, the Home Office was advised on ID cards by a firm that stands to win millions of pounds of work on the project.