Local Euro MP: 'Poll shows most people want a referendum on ID cards

1.16.43pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 13th Feb 2006

Ahead of this week's important votes at Westminster on the introduction of ID cards, an online poll for local Euro MP has revealed that a majority of people want a referendum on the issue.

Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber Diana Wallis said:

"The poll on my website, which has been running since the end of last year, shows that by a majority of nearly three to one people want a referendum on the introduction of ID cards.

"People think we need a much wider debate on just why we need ID cards at all. Do we really know how much these ID cards will cost, both to the Treasury and to us as individuals? Will they be compulsory or voluntary?

"In order to have this debate and to tease out some answers there ought to be a referendum on ID cards. The UK had, after all, been prepared for a referendum on Europe which I supported. Now we must be permitted to decide on something as equally and fundamentally constitutional as the government holding all our intimate personal data. This is obviously a view shared by the majority of people."

Notes:

The online poll on Diana Wallis MEP's website, in answer to the question 'Should there be a referendum in the UK on the introduction of ID cards?', showed:

68% in favour

26% against

And 6% didn't know