In a week when London’s temperature soared to 32 degrees, Home Secretary Alan Johnson ordered the UK Border Agency to review its rollout of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals, with a view to accelerating the process. But at the same he appears to be making a ‘U turn’ on mandatory ID cards for British Citizens.

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay. Full Story.

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The announcement is clearly designed to reassure the public that the Labour Government is taking steps to secure and strengthen Britain’s borders.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay.

The UK Border Agency website said that the Government plans to speed up the rollout of identity cards for British Citizens. But other reports suggest otherwise, with David Davis refuting the claim in a BBC report, and The Independent describes the move, in terms of compulsary cards for British Citizens, as the “Last rites for ID cards“.

An independent Identity Commissioner will be appointed in the near future to oversee the National Identity Service, but compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals will continue to be overseen by the Information Commissioner and the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency.

Speaking on BBC’s Question Time this evening, Leader of the House Harriot Harmon refused to confirm that the Government would force British people to carry ID Cards.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk