ID cards central if Labour re-elected

Thursday, 14 April 2005 12:00 AM

Labour has thrown the gauntlet down to the Conservatives on ID cards, promising that they would be a central plank of legislation if Labour wins the next election.

And, general election co-ordinator Alan Milburn challenged Michael Howard to say whether the Tories would back ID cards.

The Government's ID bill was lost in the scramble to get legislation through Parliament before its dissolution.

The Liberal Democrats are implacably opposed to ID cards on both civil liberty and cost grounds, but the Conservative position is less clear.

Although they originally backed the idea of ID cards in principle, they withdrew their support from the Government's plans saying that they had not been properly thought through.

Speaking today, Mr Milburn said reintroducing the bill would be the first priority for a Labour government.

Mr Milburn said: "If Labour win, the ID Card Bill will be reintroduced before the Summer."

Citing the case of the Kamel Bourgass, found guilty of plotting to spread poisons, Mr Milburn said: "The result of the ricin case trial, and the information it has revealed about terrorist activity in Britain, makes it clearer than ever that no serious party should play politics on terrorism.

"The public need to be reassured that every action is being taken - by government, the police and security services - to combat terrorism.

"I have spoken this morning to the Prime Minister and Charles Clarke who have agreed that the Identity Cards Bill will be a major plank of Labour's first Queen's Speech if we win the election.

"I now challenge Michael Howard to say whether the Conservatives will support or oppose the ID Cards Bill when it is reintroduced in Parliament?"

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