ID cards - Stealth Gerrymandering

As well as the usual arguments against ID cards, which I won't go in to here, reading this article it struck me that we could have a new kind of gerrymandering. The Government is now planning to spend £5.5bn over the next 10 years on the IT systems behind ID cards. Even if we accept that these costs won't rise above inflation this is a lot of money. This money will be pumped in to the IT industry, probably in this country, and promises to provide a gravy train for those working on the project.

The Tories have said they would scrap ID cards and, for the sake of this argument, lets take them at their word and assume it will be in their next manifesto.

Given the pace of these projects the taxpayers money tap will be really flowing by the time we get to the next general election which will give those working on the ID card projects a dilemma: vote for Labour (or other ID supporting party) or vote to lose your job? Not many turkeys vote for Christmas.

Anyone prepared to bet against the ID card contracts being awarded to companies that just happen to be based in or near Labour marginals?

Not strictly gerrymandering, I know, but the same effect.