Let me get this right. Britain is introducing ID cards because :

a) the US is mandating "biometric passports" for visitors

b) it's cheaper to do ID cards and biometric passports in a job lot.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Blair 'confident' over ID cards

Hello! It's an IT system. Does anyone still believe it's esier to build a whole bunch of functionality all at once rather than incrementally in very small step?

Am I right in thinking that UK policy is now totally driven by US government requirements?

Probably all McKinsey's fault.