Police not Plastic, Say Manchester Lib Dems!

3.32.13pm GMT Wed 7th Dec 2005

At today's City Council meeting, Manchester's Liberal Democrat Councillors voted against the Government's scheme for compulsory National ID Cards. However, Labour Councillors were criticised for backing the Government's controversial plans.

The motion, proposed by Rusholme Councillor Lynne Williams, asked the Council to prevent ID Cards being required to access public services, and to affiliate with the protest group No2ID, which is a non-party political campaign. Also, the motion would have prevented Manchester residents being used as "guinea-pigs" to test the controversial technology in a Government pilot scheme

Councillor Williams said:

"ID Cards are an unnecessary intrusion into our liberty, and the cost will be astronomical - Labour say £93 per person but a study by the London School of Economics goes even further, suggesting they could cost £300 each! The total cost to the taxpayer will range from £6 billion - the Government estimate - to £18 billion - the LSE estimate!"

She went on:

"The more ID cards are investigated, the less credible they appear. Manchester Liberal Democrats believe that the money wasted on ID cards would be better spent on more police officers, walking the beat in our local communities. That's what my constituents want - not a gimmicky piece of plastic!"

Councillor Williams concluded:

"I am shocked that Labour Councillors refused to support the all-party campaign against compulsory ID cards. For example, in November, Labour Councillors in Bristol abstained rather than support the Government's plans. But by voting in support of compulsory ID cards, and in favour of Manchester being a "guinea-pig" for a Government trial, Manchester's Labour Councillors have shown themselves to be amongst the most rightwing in the country!"

Ends...