Government ID scheme already unravelling

7.05.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 5th Nov 2007

Gordon Brown has demanded a review of the technology behind the proposed new ID cards, prompting opponents to warn that the £5.3bn ID cards scheme could be hit by the same problems that engulfed other Government IT projects.

The Government has made a total mess of introducing interviews for first-time passport applicants. The project has gone over-time, over-budget and still isn't working properly. How can we possibly believe it will be able to introduce the infinitely more complicated identity cards scheme, which will be based on the same infrastructure, when it can't even deliver this basic system? It is time to pull the plug on the ID cards proposals before we waste any more taxpayers' money on this expensive white elephant.