Thatcher has described ID cards as “a Germanic concept completely alien to this country”. The Tory whips have said you can do your Christmas shopping if you don’t want to vote for ’em. Howard is back-pedalling, Redwood is posturing he might quit. David Davis is signalling he is against the policy which he is publicly advocating and Howard says “David Davis and I are committed to an incoming Conservative government undertaking a complete review of Labour’s proposals.” Translation: We’ll dump the ID cards plan in government, but we can’t U-turn now or I’ll look a complete pillock.