The House of Lords has dealt Charles Clarke a fresh blow by once again rejecting a key part of the identity cards legislation.
Peers voted on Wednesday night by 218 to 183 to ensure that from 2008 passport applicants do not also have to have their details recorded on the identity cards register.
Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats say the proposal breaches a Labour election pledge that the ID cards would initially be voluntary.
The latest decision by the upper house is the third time they have rejected the proposals.
Earlier this week the home secretary again won a Commons vote to overturn the Lords amendment.
As the Identity Cards Bill continues to 'ping pong' between the two houses of parliament, he now faces the prospect of having to do so again.
And if the Lords continues to resist the proposal and ministers are not willing to back down, they may have to use the Parliament Act to force their measure onto the statute book.
That, however, will delay the introduction of the scheme, causing further headaches for ministers.
