Tuesday, January 24, 2006
ID Cards Proposals Slammed In Lords - Again.
For the second time in the space of a week in the House of Lords, angry peers trashed the Government's planned legislation for identity cards, invoking the memory of fascist regimes which forced citizens to carry their papers at all times.
Home Office minister Baroness Scotland listened as a succession of peers denounced plans to include all holders of biometric passports on the planned ID cards register. Not one peer spoke in favour of the move.
Lord Stoddard of Swindon said: "Some of these measures have the elements of a fascist state - and this country is preaching to many countries about democracy."
Lord Selsdon, a Tory peer, protested that the proposed scheme had echoes of totalitarian regimes. He said: "It's strange we should be swinging so far backwards... Most of the new members of the European Union are longing for the days when they don't have to carry their papers day and night."
Last week, peers voted to require ministers to set out detailed costs of ID cards.
See all recent posts.
Home Office minister Baroness Scotland listened as a succession of peers denounced plans to include all holders of biometric passports on the planned ID cards register. Not one peer spoke in favour of the move.
Lord Stoddard of Swindon said: "Some of these measures have the elements of a fascist state - and this country is preaching to many countries about democracy."
Lord Selsdon, a Tory peer, protested that the proposed scheme had echoes of totalitarian regimes. He said: "It's strange we should be swinging so far backwards... Most of the new members of the European Union are longing for the days when they don't have to carry their papers day and night."
Last week, peers voted to require ministers to set out detailed costs of ID cards.
See all recent posts.
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