Unpopular ID cards Minister visits Manchester - Lib Dems say "Police not Plastic!"

5.42.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 14th Apr 2006

Manchester Liberal Democrats have hit out at the Government's barmy plans to spend £6billion-plus on compulsory national ID cards.

Commenting on today's visit by Home Office Minister Andy Burnham MP to help shore up struggling Manchester Labour's election campaign, Manchester Liberal Democrat Group Secretary Councillor Paul Shannon said:

"It's appropriate that Manchester Labour Party should invite the Government Minister responsible for ID cards to launch their election campaign. He symbolizes Labour's wasteful spending, their failure to tackle crime properly and their right-wing tendencies."

1) Wasteful:

Just as Labour nationally are wasting £6 billion-plus on compulsory national ID cards, Labour in Manchester also waste taxpayers' money. For example, they've spent £2million each year on the failing City Centre Urbis; £50,000 on a consultants report for a casino; £18,000 on pointless New Year calendars; £9,000 on actors to promote a conference; £1,800 on a political leaflet posted to every resident in their Deputy Leader's ward; and £107,368.80 spent on payments to the Leader of the Council in the last 21 months!

Liberal Democrats will reduce spending on URBIS, on Consultants and on Councillors' allowances.

2) Failing to tackle Crime:

Labour aren't serious about tackling crime. They are spending billions on ID cards whilst 216 police officers in Greater Manchester are axed because of Labour's budget cuts.

Manchester Liberal Democrats' Budget includes an extra £1.2million for 40 more Police Officers for this city. And we believe that the money wasted on ID Cards would be better spent on more police officers, walking the beat in our local communities & tackling crime across the City. That's what local residents want - not a gimmicky piece of plastic.

3) Right-Wing:

In a recent ID cards debate, Manchester's right-wing Labour Councillors voted in favour of Manchester residents being used as "guinea-pigs" to test the controversial technology in a Government pilot scheme.

Only Manchester Liberal Democrats voted against these barmy plans!

Manchester Lib Dem Group Secretary Councillor Paul Shannon concluded:

"Labour must be getting desperate if they've invited the ID cards Minister to boost their flagging campaign! After the elections on May 4th, only Labour or the Lib Dems will be running the Council. Only Manchester's Liberal Democrats can beat Labour in Manchester. Our 38 Councillors and MP work hard all year round to fight for their area and oppose Labour's waste & inefficiency. After 35 years of Labour rule in Manchester, it's time for a change!"

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