Identity cards heading for Rochdale

Controversial: People in Greater Manchester will be the first in the country to have access to ID cards

Identity cards are not invasive and will help cut crime in the borough of Rochdale, a local MP has claimed.

Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin welcomes a Government pilot scheme which puts Greater Manchester in the front line for getting ID cards, which will cost up to £5bn.

The scheme means residents will be able to apply for the cards from Autumn this year, and will cost £30 each, raising concerns that it will lead to mandatory ID cards.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has strongly opposed his views and slammed the cards as a "waste of money".

Jim Dobbin said: “The ID cards are in the interests of security. They will assist the police and lead to cutting crime levels.

“Just think of the IRA bomb in Manchester, who knows what could have been different if we’d have had ID cards.

He added: “The cards will only hold information which is already there. So it is not invasive.

“I have no problem with it. There are many more advantages than disadvantages.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen voted strongly against the introduction of ID cards in Parliament, and stands by his views.

He said: “ID Cards will cost the taxpayer up to £5Billion and I cannot see how the Government can justify spending that amount on this scheme, especially during the current financial position they have put us in.

“We have been told that the card will cost individuals up to £200 each.

“The people of Rochdale, especially those on low incomes such as pensioners, should not be forced to pay for them.”

He added: “The Government has proven on too many occasions recently that they cannot be trusted to look after our personal data.

“If the government are serious about tackling rising crime and terrorism they should be using this money to provide Rochdale with more police for our streets and community relation projects.

"This scheme is a total waste of money and will do nothing to curb people’s fear of crime and I will continue to oppose the introduction of this scheme in Parliament.”