UK National Identity Scheme (NIS): "Costly white elephant"

Chalk up another massive IT problem for Her Majesty's government in the UK. According to InterGovWorld and the Financial Times, the UK has bidding has opened on a controversial multi-billion pound identity card program called the National Identity Scheme (NIS).

Back in February, the Tories asserted that they would scrap the program if they get elected. From InterGovWorld:

Shadow home secretary David Davis, said: "This project will do nothing to improve our security. In fact independent experts like Microsoft and the London School of Economics have pointed out that it could well make our security worse while costing the tax payer 2 billion pounds in the process.

"This is why we have written to the cabinet secretary and the major companies likely to be involved in the bidding process putting them on formal notice that the Conservatives would scrap this costly white elephant.

It sparked fury from the supplier community, with trade body Intellect warning that the threat could cast doubt on other major IT procurements.

The UK government has had serious IT failures recently, ranging from the huge National Health Service (NHS) disaster to the more recent Child Support Agency (CSA) mess.

I wonder why there are so many IT failures in the UK. Maybe something in the water?