In all the talk of the country’s desperate financial state, we have heard very little about one way in which we could save billions and reduce the crime rate for free.

Scrapping the ID card scheme, and the Big Brother database which lies behind it, will save untold billions.

Government estimates for IT projects are notoriously inaccurate, but this is one of the biggest and likely to overrun by a massive amount.

As we watch the poorest in our society gradually lose the few comforts and safeguards the state provides, taxes go up, and untold thousands face the spectre of unemployment, we are still expected to cheer as billions are wasted on this piece of bizarre control freakery. It will do nothing to prevent terrorism, and does precious little to protect us from crime or illegal immigration.

The first thing that is likely to happen is that organised crime will find a way of forging cards. The Government will deny that this is possible, and so the criminals will have a field day as they steal our money, run off with our possessions and generally make hay while the sun shines in a thousand ways we cannot even imagine – until it is too late.

We should all be asking our candidates on their views about this obscene waste of money and the cost of sorting out the chaos which will result if it is introduced.

Richard Paul-Jones
Holland Street, Brighton