Tories - Opportunistic and divided over ID cards

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 13th Feb 2005

Mrs Laing's Tories and their breathtaking opportunism over ID cards.

Last Thursday the controversial plans for identity cards were debated again in the House of Commons, it was the report stage and third reading on the Government's Bill. The Liberal Democrats continued to oppose this costly and illiberal plan. The Tories decided to abstain at the third reading despite Michael Howard backing the scheme just six weeks ago. Our local MP, Eleanor Laing, voted in late 2004 to implement ID Cards.

Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary said "The Tories are an absolute shambles on ID cards. This is breathtaking opportunism. First they were for ID cards, now they are sitting on the fence. It is no wonder that the public don't see them as the opposition to Labour anymore. It's time they had the courage to join with the Liberal Democrats in opposing this expensive and illiberal measure."