GOVERNMENT plans to consult on identity cards have split East Lancashire MPs.

Labour left-winger Gordon Prentice has unexpectedly supported the plan for what Home Secretary David Blunkett calls 'entitlement cards.'

His Labour colleague Greg Pope, is also backing the move, but Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans has accused the Government of failing to think the idea through.

Pendle MP Mr Prentice said the idea of providing cards which could identify people through a picture of their iris in their eye or a fingerprint could tackle identity fraud costing the nation £1.3billion a year.

He said: "Thousands of people have their identities stolen every year. There are people out there with multiple identities defrauding the rest of us.

"The cards have to be counterfeit proof and, clearly, the civil liberties concerns have to be addressed. But I do not have any objections in principle."

But Ribble Valley Tory Mr Evans was not convinced, saying: "The Government should think it through properly, or ID cards could end up being a hugely expensive white elephant."

Hyndburn Labour MP Mr Pope said: "Such a card could be effective in combating illegal immigration and illegal working, helping to avoid the development of an underclass who have no access to rights, decent conditions or the minimum wage.

"I realise that some people may have genuine civil liberties concerns, but my own view is that law-abiding citizens have nothing whatsoever to fear."