Fergus Ewing, Community Safety Minister, has written to the UK Home Office saying that in the view of the Scottish Government the proposed ID cards represent ‘an unacceptable threat’ to civil liberties.

The matter is reserved to Westminster  but in November 2008 the Scottish Parliament backed a motion by the Scottish Government, voting against the UK Government’s plan to introduce the cards on the grounds that they would not deter crime or increase security but would raise fears about infringement of civil liberties.

Mr Ewing has raised the cost of introducing the cards – estimated at over £5billion, saying that in the current economic climate such money should clearly be spent on more worthwhile targets like schools, hospitals teachers, nurses and policemen. He also noted the uncertain cost to citizens will be compelled to buy the card from 2012. LIke any back street market stall selling dodgy goods, the UK Government is offering the ‘bargain’ of a cut price initial fee of £30 for cards bought now. It is saying  nothing about what it will charge from 2012 but it is known to be expensive.

As For Argyll has reported, the UK Government has corrupted the Young Scot card system by making it a covert ID card and thereby entrapping youngsters in featuring in a national database – a situation they might not choose a little later when they are more aware of the issues involved.

It will be interesting to see if the Scottish Government’s resolve to oppose the introduction of these ID cards in Scotland will be forced to the point of becoming a constitutional issue. It should be. The profundity of the surveillance society we now are is already such an issue. Any attempt to force this upon the nore confident society that is Scotland would be highly provocative.