Schadenfreude

When - on the day the coalition government was formed - the Identity and Passport Service website changed to look like this many were cheered.

When - a few days later - the coalition document proudly announced the scrapping of the ID card and National Identity Register many more had reason to be pleased.

But, and I expect some backlash for my insensitivity, it is this announcement that has actually made me smile the widest (taken from the Times):

Thousands of people who bought identity cards will not receive refunds under a Bill to be unveiled tomorrow scrapping the eight-year project.

The Government has decided it will be too costly to administer a scheme to pay back the £30 to each of the 13,000 people who bought a card.

Don't say we - and, of course, our dear friends at No2ID - didn't warn you. "Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?" Well it seems that the 13,000 ID card sorry, worthless piece of plastic-carriers now £30 out of pocket have learned there is something to fear: being blindly led down an alley by an overbearing, overmighty, and profligate government. 

By Dylan Sharpe

Addendum

...Regular readers will know that if there are two people we are particularly glad to see bitten by this news it's nutty former Home Office Minister automaton, Meg Hillier; and the always delightful ID card dope and Manchester Evening News reporter, Angela Epstein.

We hope that both are mournfully looking at their ID cards and wondering what might have been...

Comments

[startledcod]

So the take up of the ID card was 13,000. That is 0.0212% of the population. So even with the coercion it can be judged a roaring success!

[edward balls]

post election blues for hillier. i can see it now: in a newsagent in hackney, trying to buy special brew with her id card. 'sorry we don't accept those'

[SadButMadLad]

It would have been even better if they had to keep the goverment informed of their change of addresses or face a fine of £1000 even though the card is useless.

[Shatterface]

Might as well flog 'em on eBay. I'm sure there's a market among those who bought Charles and Diana mugs.

[Cazzy Jones]

There's another side to this, of course, namely how burdensome are the cancellation charges and how far the government will tell the contractors to take a long walk off a short plank. Freedom of Information issues, anyone?

http://cazzyjones.blogspot.com/2010/05/id-cards-how-scorched-was-earth.html