Identity Cards Bill

My Lords, this is my second time round this circuit and I had not expected to intervene in this debate. As it is only my second time round, I am bound to say that I have heard nothing new this afternoon, with the exception of the words in the Motion of the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, and what he said immediately after moving it. Behind all this we are dealing with a very simple fact: for electoral convenience, the Government put certain words in their manifesto and now, for administrative convenience, they have set those words aside. I suggest to the House that it would be in everyone’s best interests if the debate were now wound up and the Government were allowed to parade their lack of shame through the Lobbies yet again.