Local MP denies betraying manifesto commitment
Hounslow Borough MPs Alan and Ann Keen have been accused of breaking a manifesto commitment by voting to make identity cards compulsory for anybody applying for a passport.
Andrew Dakers, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, said
"Alan and Ann Keen were elected last May on a manifesto pledge to introduce voluntary identity cards. On Monday night they broke that pledge.
"The only way in which people will be able to opt out of the system is by giving up their right to travel abroad."
In their 2005 general election manifesto, the Labour party stated "We will introduce ID cards, including biometric data like fingerprints, backed up by a national register and rolling out initially on a voluntary basis as people renew their passports."
Dakers continued"The Government's ID cards plans are now completely discredited. They will not help to fight crime or terrorism. The terrorists who attacked New York in Sept. 2001, Madrid in March 2004 and London in July 2005 all carried valid identity documents. Nor will they help tackle most illegal working and benefit fraud. Employers in industries with high levels of illegal labour are already required to check identity documents.”
Fellow Lib Dem Satnam Kaur Khalsa said "ID Cards are a threat to our liberties. A detailed picture of our daily lives will be created on a huge central register and our personal data will be shared without our consent. ID cards are an expensive way of achieving very little. The Government should abandon their plans and use the savings to put 10,000 more police on the streets. This will be more effective in tackling crime and the terrorist threat."
In defence of ID cards, Ann Keen said “The advantages are clear. One of the central features of terrorists' activity is their use of multiple identities to avoid laying tracks or patterns for us to spot. One September 11th hijacker used 30 false identities to obtain credit cards and one quarter of a million dollars of debt. Since then, the problem has worsened: over the last few years, the major terrorist suspects arrested typically had up to 50 identities each. The front-line experience of Sir Ian Blair, Chief of the Metropolitan Police, and Eliza Manningham-Buller, the head of the Security Service, has led them both to say that a national biometric scheme would help them do their job and make reliance on multiple identities very difficult.”
Local MP and husband of Ann, Alan Keen added “The key point is that we should do all in our power to prevent anyone having their identity stolen or abused, and to ensure that, for each of us, our identity is secure and protected. The Liberal Democrats have long been opposed to government measures tackling crime, shown last week by their opposition to the Mayor’s budget which will lead increased funding for police and the introduction of dedicated local police teams in each ward. This follows their previous opposition anti social behaviour and anti terrorism measures.“
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to continue the fight against compulsory ID cards when the Bill returns to the House of Lords.
February 21, 2006