HARPENDEN MP Peter Lilley has slammed the proposed introduction of identity cards in the UK as more like "quack medicine" than an effective means of dealing with crime and illegal immigration.

Home Secretary David Blunkett was due to publish a consultation paper on Wednesday, July 3. on voluntary proof of identity cards.

More than 100 MPs have now vowed a "war of attrition" against the plan for the cards to gain access to public services such as health, benefits and education.

The idea is opposed by Mr Lilley, who argues it is just a solution to a non-existent problem.

He said: "This idea has been hawked around for ages. One normally starts with an illness and looks for a treatment.

"Only quack medicines claim to cure ailments before they are diagnosed."

He also complained that the cards would be an unnecessary assault on individual liberties.

He added: "There is every difference in the world between cards we carry voluntarily and being compelled to carry one.

"If you forget your credit card it is an inconvenience," said Mr Lilley.

"But if you step out of your home without your compulsory ID you would commit a criminal offence.

"It would criminalise many thousands of absent-minded and forgetful people.

"But if it were not compulsory to carry one's ID, that would render the whole scheme pointless," said Mr Lilley.

Mr Lilley, who attempted to introduce smart cards for welfare claimants in the 1990's, also argued that if it was too difficult to create cards for 20 million claimants, then issuing cards to 60 million people would be technically impossible.

The smart card scheme was originally abandoned by the Labour Government on the grounds that it was too complex.

July 2, 2002 16:30