Commons to vote on ID cards
Conservative leader Michael Howard today is expected to ask MPs to abstain on a key vote on the Identity Cards Bill.
The Liberal Democrats have already said they will oppose their introduction, but the position of the Conservatives is still uncertain.
Though party leader Michael Howard has backed the idea in principle, but has been sceptical about some of the details, a number of senior MPs on the libertarian wing of the party are known to have deep reservations.
There is now the possibility that Mr Howard might order his MPs to abstain from the bill after he criticised the Government for failing to set aside enough time for scrutiny.
As Mr Howard and his Shadow Cabinet are in Manchester for a series of meetings today, this scenario is increasingly likely.
In addition, it is expected that more than 100 MPs from all sides of the House will vote against the Government.
It is highly unlikely though that the Government will lose the vote as the likely rebellion on its own side is not on the scale of Foundation Hospitals or top-up fees.
If the bill passes the report stage and third reading, it will then go to the Lords. Stiff opposition there is expected.
