"Universities are in desperate need for more funding. Now they have to install expensive equipment to read these flawed pieces of plastic.

"First Labour forces students into mortgage style debts by introducing top-up fees. Then they force universities into switching from existing ID checks to the government's flawed scheme."

Forum Response: British Youth Council

British Youth Council chairwoman Blossom Young said: "BYC deplores the government's attempts to introduce compulsory ID cards through the back door. We support the introduction of a voluntary entitlement card.

"BYC is outraged by the government's blatant attack on our civil liberties and freedom of choice. Education and health are two of our society’s major cornerstones; young people should not be forced to sign up to having a card to access these essential services.

"Ninety-five per cent of the young people, in response to our survey that formed our submission to the Home Office’s consultation, said that a card would be very attractive to them if it provided entitlements. The government has carried out another u-turn, from consulting its citizens on ideas for entitlement features with the card, to telling citizens what they won’t be able to access without it.

"A government that has publicly committed itself to achieving 50 per cent participation in further and higher education, has created another barrier for young people to hurdle. BYC believes education to be a right not a privilege. We support the provision of state support for young people in further and higher education, but oppose this draconian measure by which young people must be forced to obtain an ID card to access essential financial support to enable them to further their education.

“This is the thin end of the wedge; we foresee these proposals leading to inequality and discrimination against those that chose to either posses not posses the card.”