In article , David Horne
writes
Not yet, although there are attempts in the pipeline to make people
think it would be acceptable. We remember the War, and "papers please"
and don't want to go back to that.

That's an increasingly small part of the population. For myself, I'd
welcome one, both for domestic and EU travel. I don't have a driving
license, and having to carry the passport around for UK air travel is
annoying- a credit card sized ID card in the wallet would be better- all
the better for EU travel too. Providing it wasn't obligatory to carry it
around, or to actually _have_ one (just like you do't have to have a
passport)- I don't think most sane people would be bothered.

I think you just contradicted yourself.

Yes, a "convenient and small" passport would be a good thing for many
people. Especially for those journeys where the visited country doesn't
want to put a stamp on it! Don't expect it to be devoid of biometrics
though: would Sir prefer a fingerprint or an iris scan?

But you then say "as long carrying isn't obligatory". All the currently
circulating ID card proposals will become obligatory-carry sooner rather
than later.
--
"now, the thing you type on and the window you stare out of are the same thing"