We don’t want ID cards, says county (From Worcester News)

We don’t want ID cards, says county

12:50pm Saturday 21st February 2009 in

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WORCESTERSHIRE County Council will oppose the Government’s controversial multi-billion-pound ID card scheme “at every possible stage”, councillors have resolved.

Members at County Hall backed a Liberal and Liberal Democrat-led motion that the authority only co-operate with the scheme “where to do otherwise would be unlawful”.

The council will now refuse to take part in pilot schemes or feasibility studies and has resolved that ID cards will not be required to access council services unless specifically required by law. It will also back the national No2ID campaign.

Proposing the motion, Liberal Councillor Fran Oborski said: “This is a fundamental threat to the relationship between the citizen and the state – and these things do not work.

“ID cards are compulsory in Spain and they did not stop the Madrid bombings.

“They will not stop illegal immigration, because visitors won’t be required to get one unless they’re staying here for more than three months.

“And frankly the record of this Government with keeping personal details is diabolical.”

Coun Oborski’s words were backed by Liberal Democrat Councillor Di Raynor.

“When I first came into this this world this country was fighting a dictatorship – fighting for freedom,” she said. “As I get towards the end of my life I find this country is looking for ways to take away these freedoms.

“This is something we should fight just as surely as we fought on the beaches. Your freedom, my freedom, our grandchildren’ freedom is under threat.”

Conservative council leader Councillor George Lord said that he was “quite happy to support this motion unreservedly”.

ID cards are already being issued to foreign nationals in the UK, and will be extended to the rest of the population – initially on a voluntary basis – during 2010 and 2011.

The Government says the cost to the taxpayer will be £5.6 billion, though a study by the London School of Economics suggested it could be closer to £20 billion.

Labour councillors spoke out in support of the scheme, with group leader Councillor John Buckley stating he “did not know what all the fuss is about”.

“We do have a problem with the cost and the security and I would want some reassurances,” he said. “But as someone who travels a lot I see these cards all over Europe.”

His Labour colleague Edgar Harwood said: “We’re well behind other European countries on this, they’re extremely useful and I think the sooner the better.”

Other Labour councillors said the council chamber was not the right place for the debate, and that they would abstain.

The motion to oppose ID cards was carried by 34 votes to two, with 15 abstentions.