It’s natural to be wary of ID cards in Britain

SIR – Michael Bentley (Letters, November 21), writing from Switzerland, does not understand the “British aversion” to ID cards.

The answer is simple. We don’t trust the Government with our data. Given half a chance it will demand details at random, sell them for a profit, share them without consent and use them to control our lives. Freedom must take precedence over convenience. Tristram C Llewellyn Jones

Church Stretton, Shropshire

SIR – Michael Bentley misses the point. Swiss Big Brother knows everything about you. I left the country in 1974 after 11 years in a police state. When I remarried, my Swiss passport was confiscated, along with all my pension contributions.

Antoinette Thornes Westcliff-on-sea, Essex

SIR – Michael Bentley’s eloquent exposition of the benefits of Swiss ID cards overlooks one simple, glaring fact: in Switzerland, things work.

How I’d love to be able to say the same for Britain.

Lady Thomas

London NW7

SIR – Why all the fuss about ID cards? We have one already – NHS Registration.

Brian Foster