GOVERNMENT plans to introduce identity cards were attacked by the new MP for West Devon and Torridge in his maiden speech in the House of Commons. Conservative Geoffrey Cox told MPs that the bill to bring in ID cards represented a ?vast expansion of the potential for control by the state over the individual?. At no time in peacetime had an individual been required to notify the state authority of a change of address or to come to a specific place at a specific time unless he was subject to criminal process and on bail. Mr Cox said: ?Why should free citizens of this great country be subjected to the direction of the state merely in order to exist in our society?? He said he had received between 100 and 200 letters from constituents since being elected, and not one of them said ID cards were the answer to their problems. Mr Cox said later that it was ?awe-inspiring? to be called for the first time to speak in the Commons. As is the tradition in a maiden speech, he praised his predecessor. He told MPs Liberal Democrat John Burnett was well liked and did not ?parrot party dogma?. He also praised Mrs Billie Burnett ? she and Mr Burnett had ?worked indefatigably? for the interests of constituents over eight years, said Mr Cox.
