OVER the past several months I have been writing to Greg Pope in the hope that I can convince him to vote against the ID cards bill.

Whilst being very fair with me he pointed out that I am the only person in Hyndburn who has complained about this issue.

In order for democracy to work, the public must contact their MPs and make them aware of their feelings on important national issues where all our lives will be affected.

This is even more important when it is something that your MP is voting on in Parliament.

I do not feel that I can be the only person in the Hyndburn constituency that is against this 'plastic poll tax' and serious encroachment on our civil liberties.

Neither do I believe that I am the only person who thinks that the state should be answerable to the public and not the other way around.

There are many ways in which to contact your MP including the Write To Them website.

I accept that some of you support ID cards and are of the opinion that you have nothing to hide, such as selling a car privately and not informing the tax man, you have never gone home with a company pen, your children have never misbehaved at school or got up to anything that should be put on their permanent record.

I, however, am one of these people who has to admit that I am not perfect and more likely than not to have something to hide.

We are led to believe that ID cards will prevent illegal immigration and benefit fraud. This will not be the case as the vast majority of benefit fraud is not identity related, it is people earning 'cash in hand' while claiming benefits as well.

As far as immigration is concerned, it is only UK citizens that will be required to have an ID card. Holidaymakers will not.

If I am an illegal immigrant and I say that I am on holiday, the police may ask to see my passport. They will not ask to see my ID card as we cannot demand that all holidaymakers apply for an ID card prior to visiting the UK.

JAKE LONG, Whalley Road, Accrington.