Conservatives ‘united’ on ID cards
The Conservatives’ Shadow Cabinet is “united” in its decision to support the Government’s Identity Cards Bill, leader Michael Howard has said.
The former Home Secretary said the cabinet would take collective responsibility in supporting the controversial legislation.
Mr Howard said he was convinced ID cards would bolster the fight against terrorism, crime and immigration, helping to make Britain a safer place.
It was reported Mr Howard faced some rumblings of discontent on the front benches from Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin and Transport and Environment Spokesman Tim Yeo, who reportedly said the plans “stink”.
Meanwhile, backbencher Peter Lilley, former Social Security Secretary, said he would defy the whips to vote against the Bill.
He said the Bill was “a bad law brought in by a bad Government for bad motives in a bad way”.
The Bill receives its second reading in the Commons on Monday.
The former education spokesman, Damian Green, said he would be speaking against ID cards in the debate next week given the “encroachment” on public freedom and the “colossal” expense.
Mr Green said the final bill for ID cards – which will cost three billion pounds according to the Home Office – could surge to six to nine billion pounds.
“I could find a lot of ways to spend nine billion pounds to protect our borders, to fight against terrorism and to fight against benefit fraud better than with an untried system.
“I simply disagree with Michael Howard. It is a balance of advantage here. It is a huge and difficult issue and it has been debated for many years. People can take their own view on this and I think that it is not worth the expense or the restriction on personal freedom.
He added measures were needed in the here and now to fight crime, not in 2012 when ID cards come into force.
“This is David Blunkett and Tony Blair doing another gimmick to disguise the fact that too much of their crime policy is out of control.”
Richard Shepherd, Conservative MP for Aldridge-Brownhills, said he was “profoundly disappointed” in Mr Howard’s decision to support of the plan.
Former Conservative MP and candidate for Mayor of London, Steven Norris, said ID cards were a “fundamentally illiberal measure and it does not even work”.
Critics say the Tories are backing the Government out of fear and not because the policy is inherent right or timely.
One such critic is former Daily Telegraph Editor Charles Moore who said the Tories were running scared of being branded soft on crime in the run up to the next election.
The Liberal Democrats have said they will oppose the bill.
Lib Dems Home Affairs Spokesman Mark Oaten said the scheme was a waste of money and “deeply flawed”.
