Alex Salmond's government is on a collision course with Westminster over the introduction of ID cards, making clear that it will seek to stop a "compulsory scheme by stealth" operating north of the border.

The Herald was told the First Minister had "serious concerns" over the policy's harmful effects on civil liberties while producing no tangible benefit to security. Enforcement by London was likened to the political storm caused by the imposition of the poll tax by Margaret Thatcher.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is to make urgent representations to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, expressing Holyrood's "vehement opposition" to Gordon Brown's flagship scheme.

If it were successfully blocked in Scotland, then its integrity would be seriously undermined for the rest of the UK, given that the Prime Minister believes nationwide ID cards will be effective in combating terrorism, organised crime, identity fraud and illegal immigration.

The Liberal Democrats aired their strong opposition to the ID cards scheme yesterday while civil liberties groups said it would be disastrous for people's privacy and race relations. The Conservatives pledged that if they came to power, they would scrap the "utterly discredited" project.

Yesterday, Ms Smith, in announcing revised plans, boasted how most Britons would have a biometric identity card by 2017. She stressed she wanted as many people as possible to "enjoy the two key benefits of the National Identity Scheme - improved protection and greater convenience".

The Secretary of State added: "We will be able to better protect ourselves against identity fraud as well as protecting our communities against crime, illegal immigration and terrorism. It will help us to prove our identity in the course of our daily lives when travelling, opening a bank account, applying for a new job or accessing government services."

The first people to be compelled to get ID cards in the UK will be non-EU nationals. Next year, they will be issued to some people with "sensitive jobs" such as staff at airports and power stations. From 2010, young people will be able to volunteer for the cards and the following year all passport applicants will be automatically registered, having the option of choosing to have a passport, ID card or both.

However, critics believe the UK Government's programme is compulsion "by stealth". They fear millions of Britons could be forced to apply for an ID card because of their jobs while another concern is that students will have to have an ID card to open bank accounts and obtain loans.

Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman claimed the supposed voluntary scheme for most Britons was "a compulsory one in all but name". He told The Herald: "We are opposed to the concept of compulsory ID cards. We feel the UK Government is attempting to introduce this measure by stealth. We will be making representations to them to make clear our vehement opposition to it."

Under the previous and present Edinburgh administrations, it has been made clear ID cards will not be needed to access public services.

The spokesman stressed how it was not just the Scottish Government but also the Scottish Parliament which had "no desire" to see an ID card scheme.

Earlier, when the Prime Minister's spokesman was asked if he thought the UK Government would encounter difficulties with the Scottish Government over the proposed ID card scheme, he replied he had "no reason to believe" this would be the case and that there were "well-established mechanisms" for discussing the issue with Edinburgh.