The Scottish Government have demanded an end to the identity card scheme.
They have urged newly-appointed Home Secretary Alan Johnson to cancel the £1.1billion UK-wide project.
Holyrood Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said: “Given the current financial climate, I believe the UK Government should have better uses for the vast sums of money being spent on this scheme.” The first cards were introduced last November for foreign nationals.
People in Greater Manchester will be the first British citizens to be able to apply for ID cards later this year – though the scheme will be voluntary.
In a letter to the Home Secretary, Mr Ewing said the cards were an “unacceptable threat to citizens’ privacy and civil liberties” and there was little evidence they would combat terrorism.
Read more in The Sunday Mail.