Ancient freedoms chiselled away - Lord Phillps

12.00.00am GMT Fri 20th Jan 2006

The Identity Cards Bill will continue its passage through the House of Lords on Monday, with several votes expected on Key issues. Commenting ahead of the debate, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman, Lord Phillips, said "Step by step and year by year the Government is chiselling away at ancient freedoms. We are probably the most overlooked society in the free world, and our culture of trust is being steadily whittled away.

"In the Labour Party manifesto of 2005 they said that they would 'introduce ID Cards ? rolling out initially on a voluntary basis as people renew their passports.'

"Our amendment will ensure that this is what happens. It will not be possible for the Government, by secondary legislation, to force people taking out or renewing passports to also take out an ID Card.

"If they wanted compulsion, they could and should have said so. We in the House of Lords will keep the Government to its word. If the Government is determined to force ID Cards on British citizens, it will have to pass further primary legislation.

"If in five years time the scheme has worked well on a voluntary basis, and if there is an overwhelming public demand to force ID Cards on everyone, then we will look again at compulsion."