Blunkett claims ID cards could have prevented cockle picker deaths

Never let it be said Home Secretary David Blunkett is one to pass up an opportunity to champion his schemes in the public domain. Today, in the wake of the deaths of cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay, he claimed ID cards could have prevented the deaths, and would:

"ensure that anyone who was here couldn't actually present themselves for any other service or for work without identifying themselves properly"

Yes, that's right. The man in charge of law and order in this country believes that we'll believe organised gangs & casual workers will shy away from mud flat rich pickings if there is the fear that they might have to produce identification documents.

Sadly for David his Labour MP colleague Geraldine Smith, who represents the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency doesn't agree.

"Morecambe Bay is a public fishery, so basically once the cockle beds opened in December anyone can go down to that beach and fish for cockles.

People were supposed to have a permit and they would turn up and give their name and address and National Insurance number.

But obviously if people go on to the beach and aren't part of the permit scheme, it is virtually impossible to impose.

You can't stop people turning up and going on the beach at eight o'clock on a dark winter's night, especially as there was about £6m worth of cockles just lying in the middle of Morecambe Bay on the beaches."

You'll forgive me if I can't see how the ID card is going to be enforced at "eight o'clock on a dark winter's night" any better. Especially if, as New Labour keep insisting, it wouldn't be compulsory to carry it.