Conservatives to back ID cards
The Conservatives are to support the introduction of identity cards.
Michael Howard and his Shadow Cabinet have lent tentative support for the Identity Cards Bill, unveiled in the Queen’s Speech last month.
The Home Office’s scheme, which will collate biometric data including scans of the iris and face and the fingerprints of all 59 million people in the UK, will cost an estimated 1.3-3.1 billion pounds.
Hitherto, the Conservatives have been “agnostic” on the issue, saying they would be “sympathetic” to any proposals that made Britain safer.
Now, Tory MPs are expected to join the Government in the yes lobby in the Commons next Monday.
A spokesman last night said the party would support to the Bill as it was premised on the fight against terrorism, crime and illegal immigration.
But the Conservatives pledged to hold ministers to account on five levels – purpose, realistic objectives, delivery, cost effectiveness, and stringent privacy protection.
As the bill will take a decade to come into full effect, a spokesman said the Government had to do more during the hiatus to tackle “rising crime and uncontrolled immigration”.
Mark Oaten, home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, who oppose many of the measures in the proposed legislation, said the Tories ought to have the courage “to try and change public opinion not follow it”.
Tony Blair has said the introduction of ID cards was “long-overdue”.
