Myfanwy calls on Westminster Government to scrap ID card scheme to save schools and hospitals

Responding to the news that Wales may face a £500 million cut in public spending next year, Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, has backed local teacher Aerona Edwards in calling on the Westminster Government to abandon its controversial plan to introduce ID cards. Myfanwy and Mrs Edwards are calling on Gordon Brown’s Government to redistribute the money to protect basic services like education and health.

Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:

“The ID card scheme goes way beyond establishing a secure ID card. It will be more extensive than anything existing in another country and will give the Home Secretary unprecedented powers over an individual’s actions. Scrapping the scheme is clearly the right thing to do.

“The Government’s confused response to the financial crisis also means that public services face a huge cut in Wales next year. Given that the Government’s own figures showed the cost of the ID card scheme would be £5.5 billion, scrapping it would release funds that we desperately need to protect our jobs and public services like schools and hospitals”.

“In terms of introducing direct and unaccountable power over its citizens this government has shown itself to be more destructive than even the Thatcher government was. They have to stop putting their own narrow priorities first and take action now to protect the public services all of us need and deserve”.
Aerona Edwards a former secondary school teacher from Cleviston Park, Llangennech added:

“It's hard to imagine what a cut of 500 million would do to schools in Wales. Cuts in education put children's chances in life at risk and they affect the most vulnerable children most. Gordon Brown’s Government has admitted that ID cards won’t stop terrorists. The scheme is completely unnecessary and it won't work. I would ask Gordon Brown to reconsider because we so badly need the money for our schools”.

Helen Mary Jones’ initial press release on spending cuts to Wales: http://www.plaidcymru.org/content.php?nID=101;ID=1128;lID=1

The ID card plans will allow the, Home Secretary to cancel or require surrender of an identity card, without a right of appeal, at any time. For more information see: http://www.no2id.net/