LibDems embarrass Ipswich Labour on ID cards

2.00.00pm GMT Sat 15th Dec 2007

LibDems consistently oppose ID cards

Ipswich LibDems welcomed the conversion of the local Tories to opposing ID cards at Ipswich Borough's council meeting on Wednesday 12th December, moving away from Michael Howard's policy when he was the Tory leader, when they had backed Labour's plans for ID cards.

Councillor Richard Atkins pointed out that the LibDems had been consistent in their opposition to ID cards, and recounted that it was due to Liberal views that ID cards were scrapped in the 1950s. Trevor Wilcox, a North London dry cleaner, was asked by police to show his ID card at a time when it was law to carry one. When asked why he had refused, his memorable reply was "because I'm a Liberal". This lead to the abolition of ID cards.

Richard noted that more than 170 Tory and Labour MPs had absented themselves from Parliament, despite the whip being applied, causing embarrassment to Tony Blair and Michael Howard, who had both pitched their personal authority behind the ID card plans. 10 Tory MPs voted against, along with 19 Labour MPs, including former cabinet minister Clare Short. However, the Labour Government with Conservative support won by 385 votes to 93. The Liberal Democrats voted against the ID card plans. Richard called on Labour councillors to show their opposition to ID cards.

"If you can't do it out of principle, then take heart from an opinion poll yesterday" he said, "which showed that, for the first time, a majority of the UK population oppose ID cards. This is wonderful news to LibDems, who are used to being in a minority with their views until people realise the sense of what they are saying and come over to their argument."

Cllr Andrew Cann, Leader of the Ipswich LibDem group, said that he knew that a number of Labour councillors had been opposed to the war in Iraq and the introduction of tuition fees; now it was time to show their true beliefs when it came to ID cards.

On a recorded vote, every single Ipswich Labour councillor abstained. "Party loyalty is one thing" commented Richard "but surely there are times when you need principles. Some Labour councillors looked really uncomfortable but none of them dared to show their opposition to ID cards."

The LibDems and the Conservatives all indicated their opposition to Labour's ID card proposals.