Liverpool strikes blow to national ID roll-out

Councillors in Liverpool have struck a blow to the Government's national ID card scheme, which could be used to check the age of customers in pubs.

A motion opposing the scheme was passed unanimously at the Liberal Democrat-controlled city council - meaning every Labour councillor registered their opposition.

It means the council won't publicise the roll-out or let its premises be used for promotional events or meetings connected to the cards.

It will even work with groups campaigning against the cards to raise awareness of the "dangers" of the ID card database.

The cards will cost £30. People in Manchester can already apply for them and the national roll-out is planned for 2011/2012.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Paula Keaveney, one of those who proposed the motion, said the action follows news that Liverpool is likely to be the next test area for the scheme.

She said: "The Government is trying 'soft-marketing' of ID cards as a voluntary scheme. They started doing that in Manchester and the signs are they are starting to do that in Liverpool - the leader of the council has had communications from the relevant Government department."

Opponents of the cards say the card database breaches people's privacy and won't help the fight against crime, terrorism or illegal immigration.

In September Identity and Passport Service chief executive James Hall, who heads the roll-out of the cards, told the Morning Advertiser that he thought the cards would eventually replace other forms of ID used in pubs.