The A to Z of ID cards

O is for Opposition

Despite government research showing 55 per cent still support the idea of ID cards, opposition to the scheme continues to mount.

Pilots and unions for airside worker - the two critical groups that will be forced to carry the cards from Autumn 2009 have criticised the scheme.

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats say they would scrap the scheme and the Scottish government has said it "beggars belief that the UK government is pressing ahead with its costly National Identity Scheme" in the middle of a recession.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insists the scheme is still popular, saying people have been asking her 'When can I get an ID card?'.