Cabinet split over plan to fast-track ID cards

Four senior ministers have accused Blunkett of attempting to "sneak" the plan through, despite their open opposition.

Ministers had agreed to introduce a draft bill for voluntary ID cards this Easter, but Blunkett has now introduced a clause under which the cards could become compulsory without the need for a further Act of Parliament.

This has enraged ministers including Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling, who has insisted that Blunkett carry out a far "fuller debate" before pressing home such a far-reaching measure as compulsory cards.

The government rift comes with the Home Office re-evaluating security measures in the wake of the Madrid bombings.

A new poll last night revealed growing public support for a scheme which would mean every British citizen would be required to carry proof of their identity.

The poll found that 86% of people in Britain would be prepared to carry ID cards.

However, the four ministers are resistant to what they consider to be Blunkett’s gung-ho attitude.

Along with Darling, it is understood that the ministers opposed to the plan are Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng, and Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

Straw is reported to have referred to "the need to ensure that the draft bill is in line with what colleagues earlier agreed. My recollection is the same as Patricia’s... a bill of this kind would be seen to be focused on the introduction of a compulsory ID scheme."

He added: "I should like to emphasise that the ID card scheme must be designed in a way that is compatible with our obligations under international law, in particular EU law."

Darling is said to have complained that "there is a widespread feeling that a change of this significance and sensitivity will need a far fuller debate".

And Boateng is said to have written: "I remain concerned about compulsion - an issue that cuts to the core of the political and public acceptability of the scheme."

The row follows a deal struck by the Cabinet last November, under which ministers agreed to put off a decision on a compulsory scheme "until later this decade".

An agreed statement issued at the time said: "In principle, Cabinet believes that a national ID card scheme can bring major benefits. In practice, given the size and complexity of the scheme, a number of issues will need to be resolved over the years ahead.

"So we intend to proceed by incremental steps to build a base for a compulsory national ID card scheme with a final decision to proceed to a compulsory card later, when the conditions for moving to a compulsory card are met… We will reserve the final decision on a move to compulsion until later this decade."

Later in the month, the Queen’s Speech confirmed that the government would publish a draft bill on the ID card plan.

Ministers said they expected 80% of the population to hold the ID card - through either a passport or a driving licence - by 2013.

Parliament, they made clear, would have to approve a later move to compel the rest of the population to pay for a card.

Last night a Home Office spokesman said: "The government position was set out in the Home Secretary’s statement to the House [of Commons] last November, and in the Next Steps document published at the same time. Nothing has changed.

"We have no intention of providing a running commentary on private letters.

"We welcome the fact that once again an opinion poll shows overwhelming public support for ID cards."