ID cards pass the Commons
MPs last night passed the Identity Cards Bill by 224 votes to 64, after the Conservatives chose to abstain on the crucial vote.
Having passed both the report stage and the third reading on Thursday, the bill will now go to the House of Lords where it could meet stiffer opposition.
Nineteen Labour MPs and 11 Tories defied their parties’ whips to vote against the bill with the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives’ decision to abstain came under fire from both the Lib Dems and Labour.
The Conservatives initially said that they supported the idea of ID cards in principle, but later withdrew their support saying they were unhappy with the details of the bill and the lack of scrutiny time.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that the Government had failed to answer serious questions about the practical application of the scheme.
Labour argues that ID cards will make the country safer, help combat terrorism, people smuggling and illegal immigration as well as prevent abuse of the UK’s public services.
Opponents argue that the cards will infringe civil liberties, will be ineffective against terrorism and will cost a vast amount of money that would be better deployed elsewhere.
Alan Milburn, Labour’s general election co-ordinator, said that Michael Howard had made a “strategic error of judgement” in withdrawing his support.
He added: “It takes more than tough talk to make Britain secure. It takes practical measures. The Conservatives have failed that test.”
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said the Tory decision was a “shambles” and smacked of opportunism.
He said: “This is breathtaking opportunism. First they were for ID cards, now they are sitting on the fence. It is no wonder that the public don’t see them as the opposition to Labour anymore.
“It’s time they had the courage to join with the Liberal Democrats in opposing this expensive and illiberal measure.”
