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Identity Cards Bill

I remain deeply worried about the ambit of the Bill and the powers that are being taken, which have recently been rather overlaid by much of the argument. There are powers in the Bill to make changes to the manner in which all these different requirements can be achieved. The plain fact is that for all the reasons that I have given, I remain resolutely opposed to the Bill. I am astonished, although I should not be that surprised, by the authoritarian attitudes that are characteristic of this Government and, regrettably, of some Labour Back Benchers. That authoritarianism is reminiscent of another socialist—George Orwell.