ID Cards - Arguments Against published today by Liberty and Charter88

In a Charter88/Liberty booklet published today at the Labour Party Conference, former Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien MP joins critics of plans to introduce compulsory identity cards.

In his contribution to ID Cards - Arguments Against Mr O'Brien argues that ID cards don't work and goes on to say: "Ministers have recognised that our aim is to seek to protect freedom and democracy, and therefore each time we are forced to undermine these values, terrorists will claim it as a victory."

"Identity cards were abolished in the early fifties for good reasons. They were unreliable in proving identity and damaged the relationship between the public and the police".

He concludes: "When it come to fighting terrorism and serious crime, there are more effective things to spend our money on."

Other contributions to the pamphlet come from across the political spectrum, civil society and academia - and include:

Steve Norris, former vice-chair and Conservative Party mayoral candidate
Simon Hughes MP, Lib Dem Home Office spokesman
Alan Simpson MP, Labour left-winger
Indarjit Singh, Editor, Sikh Messenger
Jaffer Clark, Joint Deputy Leader, Muslim Parliament
Ravi Chand, Chairman, National Black Police Officers Association
Adrian Beck, Lecturer in security management, Leicester University
Chris Yates, Jane's aviation security editor
Sarah Spencer, Director Citizenship and Governance Programme, IPPR
Geraldine van Bueren - professor of international human rights law, Queen Mary College, University of London
Stephen Pollard - senior fellow, Civitas

Chris Lawrence-Pietroni, Deputy Director of Charter88 said: "Opposition to identity cards is extremely broad-based. Not only should they be opposed on civil liberties grounds, but as this pamphlet shows, they wouldn't help to prevent terrorism, would be extremely costly and would damage relations between the police and the communities they serve. This is one kite that, having been flown, should now be put firmly back in its box."

Mark Littlewood, Campaigns Director of Liberty said: "We have been greatly encouraged by the reaction against the Home Secretary's suggestion that ID cards might be introduced. Politicians from across the spectrum, community groups and numerous campaigning organisations have already shown that there is a serious and powerful coalition against the idea of ID cards and against introducing them under the pretext of counter-terrorism. We very much hope that the government will drop the idea now."

The pamphlet was launched at a Charter88/Liberty fringe meeting - The ID Card Debate at the King's Hotel, Brighton. Chair: Rev David Haslam (Chair, Christian Socialist Movement) Speakers: Rt. Hon. Lord Rooker (Minister of State, Home Office) Chris Lawrence-Pietroni (Charter88) Mark Littlewood (Liberty) Sarah Spencer (IPPR)