It's BS. Having a single ID instead of having to show a gas bill to prove your address is the right approach. Most European countries have a single ID card, and that's perfectly fine. In fact anyone who drives in the UK already have an ID card -- driving license. Now it's just a question of one card everyone would have and you could use to ID yourself when using banks or government services.

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maleldil 7 hours ago | parent [-]

This always felt weird to me in the UK. As a foreigner, I have to carry my passport anyway, but how do citizens who don't have driving licences identify themselves in day-to-day life? Say they get carded at a pub?

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mytailorisrich 7 hours ago | parent [-]

You don't have to carry any form of ID in the UK and there are no ID cards, anyway. That said, obviously most people have their driving licence on them.

As a foreigner you do not have to carry your passport.

No-one is going to ask for ID unless you are doing something specific at a bank or government office, for instance. Or, indeed if you are trying to buy alcohol or cigarettes anywhere and look very young... But young people can get provisional driving licences before they have passed their driving tests.

	▲	octo888 5 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> That said, obviously most people have their driving licence on them. Just to point out for the wider audience: you're not legally obliged to have your driving licence on you either when driving. You have 7 days to produce it a police station
	▲	maleldil 6 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I wouldn't say you need to look very young. I've been asked to show my ID when entering venues and buying alcohol[1], and I'm nearly 30. I might look under 25 if you're being generous. As a result, I usually carry my passport. [1] Well, zero-alcohol beer, which is considered alcohol for this purpose.