December 06, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Britain are split on whether to go ahead with a proposed national system of identity cards, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 43 per cent are in favour of the introduction, while 45 per cent are opposed.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Britain are split on whether to go ahead with a proposed national system of identity cards, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 43 per cent are in favour of the introduction, while 45 per cent are opposed.

In 2006, the House of Commons approved the Identity Cards Act, effectively creating Britain’s National Identity Register (NIR). The NIR is due to store up to 49 different items on everyone living in the country, including fingerprints, DNA, home address and telephone numbers. The legislation stipulates that, starting on 2009, everybody in Britain will hold a "smart" biometric ID card linked to the national register. The card will be required for access to public services such as doctors’ surgeries, unemployment offices, libraries and others.

In June, Gordon Brown officially became Labour leader and prime minister, replacing Tony Blair. Brown had worked as chancellor of the exchequer. Blair served as Britain’s prime minister since May 1997, winning majority mandates in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections to the House of Commons.

On Nov. 20, chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling announced that compact discs with detailed information on citizens went missing when HM Revenue & Customs was transferring them to another government agency through an unregistered mailing service. Paul Gray, chairman of the agency in question, resigned as a result of the incident.

On Nov. 23 in the House of Commons, Conservative leader David Cameron called on the government to scrap the proposed legislation, declaring, "(The public) will find it truly bizarre—they will find it weird—that the prime minister does not stop and think about the dangers of a National Identity Register." Brown responded to the Tory leader, saying the biometric data will allow people to "feel confident that their identity is protected."

Polling Data

Are you in favour of—or opposed to—the introduction of a national system of identity cards?

In favour	43%
Opposed	45%
Don’t know	12%

Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,966 British adults, conducted from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28, 2007. No margin of error was provided.