Leech attacks Manchester ID card trial

11.08.01am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th May 2009

John Leech, Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington, has hit out at government plans to trial their controversial ID card scheme in Manchester.

As part of the trial, anyone in the city over the age of 16 with a valid UK passport will be able to apply for an ID card at their local post office or pharmacy, at the cost of £60.

John Leech said:

"The ID card scheme is an expensive waste of time and should be scrapped. The Labour government claims that ID cards will boost national security and prevent identity theft. Yet all the Madrid bombers had ID cards, and time and again this government has shown that they can't be trusted with our personal data."

"I feel sure that this Manchester trial will prove to be another expensive flop and will make no difference whatsoever. I wouldn't sign up even if they were free, but at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch, who in their right mind is going to pay £60 to sign up for an ID card?"

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