Hughes: Defiant

Leading Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes has said he is prepared to face jail rather than carry a compulsory identity card.

In an interview with ePolitix.com, the Lib Dem president also said there are no government concessions capable of winning his party's support.

He also suggested that the policy could be dropped if the chancellor succeeds Tony Blair as prime minister.

Asked if the Lib Dems would oppose the legislation in parliament even if concessions are offered, Hughes said: "Absolutely, unequivocally and without argument."

"I am personally implacably opposed to them and we are resolute on this and we are winning the argument," he added.

"All the rumours are that if Tony Blair goes and Gordon Brown succeeds him he wouldn't be keen on them anyway, and we just have to keep putting the argument very quietly, clearly and succinctly that they don't solve the problem they are reported to solve.

"And they are a nonsense because you will be required to have an ID card but not carry it with you and I can't see the logic in that.

"I am quite willing to go to prison on several occasions if ever ID cards are brought in.

"If that awful day did happen then I'm afraid they wouldn’t get me to carry one."

Hughes also said that the Identity Cards Bill "is in trouble" in the Lords where it faces opposition from both the Conservatives and Lib Dems.

"So the Bill may not get through the Lords and the government know there are flaws in the Bill anyway," he said.

"So I'm hopeful that the Bill won't even get onto the statue book."