Liberal Democrats favour EU ID card scheme through biometric passport

Tuesday 20th January, 2009

EU Biometric Vote: LibDems Do a Deal with Labour on ID Card

Adam Pegley, www.idcardandyou.co.uk

The LibDems could still support a UK biometric ID card in the event of a hung parliament. The LibDems recently voted with Labour in the EU to support the introduction of full biometric passports, including finger prints.

The EU regulation Security Features and Biometrics in Passports and Travel Documents, which was voted for on 14th January 2009, legislates that finger prints and facial biometrics will be compulsory on EU passports from 29th June 2009. The biometric passport will be supported by a European wide identity register.

Since any Briton needing to travel will be forced to take a biometric passport, the LibDems in the EU have assisted Labour in further implementing the biometric passport component of the ID card scheme in the UK. This is in contrast with their stance at home where they continue to state they are opposed to the ID card scheme. The computer chipped passport is a core component of the scheme as it is interchangeable with the identity card. Both require compulsory biometrics, both are backed by the identity register database. In a hung parliament, the ID card can survive by replacing it with the passport, and the LibDems will side with Labour to push through any required legislation.

The voting record on biometric passports was as follows:

Less than half of UK MEPs voted in favour of the legislation
The LidDems and Labour voted in favour
2 Conservatives voted in favour but the majority abstained, which is hardly a vote against and points to the continued confusion the Tories have over the issue.
The majority of UKIP voted against. However a third were absent, including their leader Nigel Farage
Independants, Plaid Cymru, and SNP voted against
The Greens from all EU states voted against

If the LibDems truly opposed the ID card scheme they would have voted against. With the support of the abstaining Conservatives and absent UKIP the UK could have sent a clear message to the EU. Many will see this as a lost opportunity.

The vote in the EU also highlighted the ineffectiveness of the UK to defend itself against such oppressive legislation. Less than half the UK MEPs voted for the resolution, but against the massive blocs of France, Germany, and new members from the Eastern Europe this point was lost. It raises serious questions how UK interests at home can be properly represeted in the EU.