In Belgium they have had ID cards ever since I have lived here, from 1967, and they cost now €5 (that is about £3,30).
If that is the price you have to pay in England then I would say get out or start a revolt! I too was against ID cards here in my new home country, why? I don't know I have nothing to hide, as you can see on this forum I even use my real name. All I know is that thousands of illegal immigrants had only one thing in mind, GET TO THE UK because there you didn't need any sort of ID once you were in the country. So ID cards for the UK are a real good thing, but not at that price, that is robbery. I see now that they are planning (highway) motorway robbery, god what a mess the country is getting into.
My first move abroad was to Holland and had register with the police. There I had to pay a deposit equal to the first class air fare back to England (England was not in the EEC then), if I had to be deported it wouldn't cost the Dutch people a cent. I had my money back on the day that I moved out of that country. I had no objection to paying the fare, even thought it a good idea, one that they should have done in England some 50 years ago.
I am very happy with the banks in Belgium, I pay a small sum of €6,50 (£4,29) each month and they take care of all my banking business. Included in this price I get electronic home banking, two Visa cards, two bank cards and hundreds of other privileges such as restaurant and hotel discounts.
I shouldn't be telling you all this, we'll get swamped with Brummies!