Lords defeat the Government for a fifth time on Identity Cards

12.36.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Mar 2006

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Last night the House of Lords defeated the Government for the fifth on Identity Cards, with a majority of 28 (219 to 191) to back an alternative scheme to allow people to "opt out" when cards are introduced from 2008. The amendment would have allowed those applying for new or renewed passports to decide for themselves whether to opt for an Identity card until 2011.

The Lords say the government's plan is not "voluntary", as promised in Labour's election manifesto. The Identity Cards Bill will now returns to the Commons, which voted in favour of it for a fourth time last Tuesday.