Most people in the UK were happy at the idea of ID cards. There was a vocal group opposing them, but it wasn't a huge group.

The thing that finally killed ID cards in the UK wasn't privacy or technical limitations, but the cost to anyone who wanted one. At £30 most people didn't care. At £100 the scheme died.

Point noted. I guess 'Europe' is a blanket term. This is different to the attitude in Germany & France I feel, but I may have a skewed view, mostly interacting with hackers when I am over there.