Lords block ID cards bill fifth time

Lords block ID cards bill fifth time

	Published : Wed, 29 Mar 2006 10:25 By : Cedric Benson Print this Story

LONDON: The U.K.'s House of Lords again voted -- for the fifth time -- Tuesday rejecting the government's plans for a compulsory identity card system, indicating the two sides are bracing for a showdown.

The peers voted by 219 to 191 backing an amendment suggested by Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, a former Cabinet Secretary, mooting a system where people can opt out of the scheme.

The Lords' decision will mean that the bill goes back to Commons Wednesday for discussion and further action.

The government said the amendment suggested by the Lords would be costly and therefore unpopular among the public. Home office minister Andy Burnham said the debate has now gone beyond the technical issues around the issuing of identity cards and is about a point of constitutional principle. "For the health of parliamentary democracy, this matter now needs to be brought to a swift conclusion," he said.

The Labour government is bent on introducing the ID cards scheme as it was one of its election promises, though it had earlier stated that it will be done "initially on a voluntary basis". Subsequently, the scheme was linked to the issue of passports, meaning anyone who applies for a passport will automatically have his or her details added to the ID card database.

Political pundits believe there could be a marathon session Wednesday, unless one side gives way. Geoff Hoon, leader of the House of Commons, said the stand-off could lead to the government trying to weaken the Lords' constitutional powers as part of a planned overhaul of the upper chamber.

In the House of Lords, Lady Scotland of Asthal, a home office minister, warned the peers that rejecting the will of the Commons could have serious consequences for the future of the Lords. She said: "I'm personally deeply troubled by what we're doing in this House, because whether we like the contents of a Government's Bill or not, (the Commons) has the mandate of the people of this country."