Labour just survives ID card rebellion - but the Conservative leadership candidates were conspicuous by their absence

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 21st Oct 2005

Charles Clarke - it will only cost you your civil liberties and £93

Controversial plans to introduce ID cards have cleared the Commons - but with the government's majority slashed to its lowest since the election. MPs gave ID Cards Bill a third reading by 309 votes to 284, a majority of just 25. Interestingly not a single leadership contender in the Conservative Party bothered to turn up for the vote.

The bill now goes to the House of Lords where it faces a further rocky ride. Labour's Bob Marshall-Andrews MP said the bill was "the most illiberal piece of legislation we have been asked to pass in this House for half a century".

Earlier a Liberal Democrat attempt to send the legislation back to committee for further investigation failed when Labour wheeled out its 'yes men' voting fodder majority. Under the scheme, face, iris and fingerprint scans will be used to identify people.

Test have shown that current technology is not good enough and there is a great risk of error. People with brown eyes or bald men are particularly likely to be misidentified. Home Secretary Charles Clarke has revealed that people would have to pay £30 for a stand-alone identity card. But it is expected most people will want a combined passport and ID card, costing an estimated £93.