[foldr]

Don't be misled by the reaction on HN. The general concept of a national ID card is not unpopular in the UK:

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/support-for-th...

IMO this is a gimmick and probably won't have much effect either for good or bad. I would vote against it given the chance. But there aren't that many British people who feel especially strongly about this.

[hayd]

> I would vote against it given the chance.

Unfortunately the British people are rarely given a chance to vote and even more rarely listened to.

[foldr]

In the last 10 years the UK has had 4 general elections and the Brexit referendum. Some countries have more local democracy (e.g. direct elections of DAs in the US), but in terms of opportunities to change the national government or influence national policy, I don't think the UK is doing too badly.