Quite right, Feather #3 .... but as you fear, the new government ID card is simply an 'extra layer' of bureaucracy that will not address this problem.
It IS being touted by the government as the way of solving this particularly British, stupid problem; but this is because they want to introduce their ID card for their own self-indulgent reasons, and are coming up with all kinds of new justifications. There are other ways of solving this which are consequently not being pursued.
At the very least, we will have to wait until every UK airport worker has an approved government ID card - and don't forget, many are not UK citizens so can't have one even if they want one - before they even begin to address the problem. Don't hold your breath.