Greater Manchester's ID card plan condemned

The government could trial ID cards in Manchester according to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

The city region would be 'in the running' for the scheme, which will encourage young people to apply for cards.

MPs, including Rochdale's Paul Rowen, have already put forward a motion condemning the proposal to pilot the scheme in Manchester, believing that funding would be better spent putting more police officers on the street.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has described the plan as 'lunacy' and claimed that Greater Manchester 'would stand up united against the plans'.

Mr Rowen said: "I am shocked that the Government are even thinking about this. They must think that the voters of Greater Manchester are stupid if they think they can get away with this.

"The Home Office should be more concerned about our chonically under funded police force. At a time when statistics show that knife crime and burglaries have gone up, our Police Force needs to concentrate on front-line policing and keep out of politics.

"Where ID cards are already in place like Madrid, they have not stopped terrorist atrocities. I have long campaigned against this crazy proposal that will do nothing to improve public safety."

Rochdale Council two years ago became one of dozens of Councils nationwide to adopt a policy against ID Cards.

Mr Rowen is now calling for the Council to reaffirm this in the light of the Home Office plans. "Each Council in Greater Manchester needs to show their support and send a clear message to the Government that we will not tolerate being treated like guinea pigs," he said.