Johns Hopkins Medical Centre - World Coronavirus infection Map by Country.

[Barry]

No, I don't think compulsory IDs are a good idea and I would refuse to carry one. Why should I? - it's my birthright.

Another layer of bureaucracy; the card would have to be renewed every five years or less (so the photo is up to date), to add to a possible creeping totalitarian state mechanism.


I don't think they will be introduced here, nor do I think there will any internal vaccination 'passport' requirement, but other countries (including the EU) may require proof of vaccination for entry, just as they do for other diseases (such as Yellow Fever for example).

[Marco]

Interesting, Barry... We're broadly in agreement - at least on the abhorrent nature of a "creeping totalitarian state mechanism" We need to fight against that with all our might!!

The only area where we may differ, and where my views are in alignment with Guy, is that the illegal immigrant situation is grossly out of control, and so *something* drastic needs doing to address that. Exactly what, I'm not sure.

Marco.

[anthonyTD]

You've just answered!

And how will they do that? The only way is if everyone agrees to have one and you cannot go anywhere or buy anything without it.
A...
Such a draconian regime was proposed to the population of Singapore, with the promise that crime would be drastically reduced. The population voted yes, and they now cannot go anywhere without the ID: cannot board buses, trains, or the subway without the card. The government, in theory, knows where everyone is at any time, and what they have bought.

But the crime rate has plummeted.

[Macca]

This is what happened last time they tried it, and that was only for voluntary identity cards:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Cards_Act_2006

Also

Foreign nationals from outside the European Union, however, continue to require an ID card for use as a biometric residence permit under the provisions of the UK Borders Act 2007 and the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.[8][9]

I don't see how compulsory identity cards would have any effect on illegal immigration.

[Marco]

This is what happened last time they tried it, and that was only for voluntary identity cards:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Cards_Act_2006

So, without having to read all of that, I'm presuming it didn't work?

Marco.

[Barry]

You've just answered!

Yes, but I think the idea was suggested to the Singaporeans and voted on by a referendum (with, I hope, a very high majority target). The population chose it, it was not imposed on them.

[Macca]

So, without having to read all of that, I'm presuming it didn't work?

Marco.

Expensive, unworkable, unpopular and pointless.

[Marco]

Yes, but I think the idea was suggested to the Singaporeans and voted on by a referendum (with, I hope, a very high majority target). The population chose it, it was not imposed on them.

Just shows you the fundamental difference in mentality between theirs and ours [especially mine]... I couldn't think of anything worse, and would be horrified if that ever happened here!

One thing I utterly DETEST is being controlled or 'beholden'/subservient to ANYONE or ANYTHING... I'm simply not used to it. I value my freedom too much - almost above ALL else!

Marco.

[Marco]

Expensive, unworkable, unpopular and pointless.

Nicely précised! I presume you agree with Barry then, and consider that ID cards are unlikely to be introduced now or in the near future? Don't you think though that the vaccine adds another dimension into the mix, which potentially could change matters?

Marco.

[guy]

"You can be sent to jail for 5 years and pay an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK."
https://www.gov.uk/penalties-for-emp...llegal-workers

There are, potentially, 1,000,000 people in the UK without the legal right to be here. They must be making money to live.

To make it easier for employers to identify whether a person has the "right to work" here, and remove the "reasonable cause to believe" defence, it would seem logical that an identity card would remove any uncertainty. In fact it would be reasonable to expect that any employer would keep a record/copy of the ID.

By no means a perfect solution as people would lose/forget to have ID with them, but short of implants/tatoos on foreheads at least it would send a message that Gov UK was taking the matter seriously.