The issue in the UK was never about having an id card or an identity system. They have systems like that in France and they're fine.

The major issues were:

* taking biometric information from the entire population including fingerprints.

* linking that information to an online identity

* joining up all government databases on said identities (health, law enforcement etc) enabling departments to cross reference information

* plans to use this identity as your only gateway to be able to receive a job, receive benefits etc

* plans to allow certain individuals at any moment to "quarantine" identities (preventing work, benefits etc)

The entire system looked so open to abuse it was scary. I'm v.glad we're rid of it.