British citizens will never be forced to carry ID cards, Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said.
In his first major policy announcement on the post, Mr Johnson ditched a trial scheme which would have required some airport staff and pilots to carry the controversial cards.
The schemes, at Manchester Airport and London City Airport, will instead be voluntary.
He also ruled out ever requiring the public to own a card. Previously, ministers said ID cards could become compulsory once 80% of the population was covered.
The cards will still be compulsory for foreign workers, Mr Johnson said.
Mr Johnson said: "Holding an identity card should be a personal choice for British citizens - just as it is now to obtain a passport. Accordingly I want the introduction of identity cards for all British citizens to be voluntary and I have therefore decided that identity cards issued to airside workers, planned initially at Manchester and London City airports later this year, should also be voluntary."
Asked if the cards would ever be made compulsory he said: "No". "If a future Government wanted to make them compulsory it would require primary legislation," he added.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling accused the Government of an "absurd fudge".
"This decision is symbolic of a Government in chaos," he said. "They have spent millions on the scheme so far - the Home Secretary thinks it has been a waste and wants to scrap it, but the prime minister won't let him.
"So we end up with an absurd fudge instead. This is no way to run the country."
