More opposition to ID cards as Lords consider them for the third time.

4.00.00pm GMT Wed 15th Mar 2006

UK National Identity Card (Design Mock-up)

Liberal Democrat MPs have been joined by a number of Labour backbenchers and the Tories in a united attack on the ID card plans. The criticisms are on a number of different fronts including cost, civil liberties and likely effectiveness. The scheme has now run into what is likely to be its final battle - between the Lords and Commons - and it has all boiled down to the issues of compulsion and Labour's election manifesto.

The clash came after the Lords threw out for the second time the part of the proposals that would force anyone applying for, or renewing a passport to get an ID card and sign up to the planned national identity database. The Lords' move was overturned by MPs again on Monday night and has been sent back to the upper house for another go.

The row could now see the plan ping-ponging between the two chambers right through to the summer recess, with ministers threatening to invoke the Parliament Act in November to force it onto the statute books.

Liberal Democrats argue that by forcing passport applicants to get a card, the government is introducing compulsory ID cards by stealth and that is breaking the Labour manifesto commitment to make the scheme voluntary.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Clegg said the flawed ID card plan was bad enough, "but imposing it on the British people makes it worse". Some supporters of the proposal are opposing it thanks to the element of compulsion.