LONDON, March 26 (UPI) -- The British Cabinet minister who championed identification cards is working for a United States firm that is interesting in providing them.
Former Home Secretary David Blunkett has reported his new job as an adviser to Entrust to the Commons Register of Interests, The Daily Mirror reported.
The move has raised eyebrows in Britain because it comes so soon after Blunkett was at the heart of the government strategy concerning the controversial national card scheme.
A spokesman for the former minister said he was hired by Entrust to do overseas work and will not be involved in anything to do with the United Kingdom.
Blunkett is being paid about $60,000 a year by Entrust which has registered interest in running the ID scheme.
ID cards will become compulsory in 2010 for new British passport holders.
