Those who make the case in favour of national ID cards invariably do so on pragmatic grounds. As they have reminded us in recent days following Keir Starmer’s announcement of the rollout of digital ID, these would make life more simple, more convenient, secure easier access to public services, reduce fraud, criminal activity and even stem the tide of illegal immigration to this country.

Those who repeat the canard of ‘nothing to hide, nothing to fear’ should ask themselves the underlying belief they are really articulating

Who could possibly object to such reasonable-sounding arguments? National ID cards would be ‘for own good’ they continue, or more ominously: ‘if you’ve nothing to hide you’ve nothing to fear.’ Spectator readers will have heard a variation of that latter reasoning e

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