Home secretary Alan Johnson announced yesterday that the cards would only be issued to Britons on a voluntary basis, raising the possibility of the scheme being scrapped if it fails to win significant public support.

The U-turn marks another embarrassing climbdown for the government, which had previously claimed that the ID Cards were necessary to help tackle the threat of terrorism.

It said that it would now focus on the benefits to young people, such as giving the ability to prove age more easily.

More to follow...