Home secretary Charles Clarke with a trial identity card printed at the Passport OfficeQUEEN'S SPEECH - IDENTITY CARDS: THE Prime Minister is today expected to embark on a collision course with disgruntled Labour backbenchers as he revives plans for identity cards.

The highly controversial biometric cards are expected to form the centrepiece of the Queen's Speech.

Ministers are understood to be keen to rush through their plans during the first weeks of parliament, although they have hinted their proposals could be altered in order to win support.

New Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain said public opinion overwhelmingly supported ID cards but acknowledged ministers could "maybe look at some of the detail if that's necessary".

He added: "I am confident we can build consent around the elementary principle that we need a verifiable identity in our society that cannot be stolen."

The Government's reduced majority of 67 means that only 34 MPs need to rebel for draft laws to be defeated.

However, Swindon North MP Michael Wills believes the plan which was included in Labour's election manifesto will win the support of Labour backbenchers.

He said: "It is pretty clear that identity cards will be big on the agenda and it will be pretty contentious.

"However, most of the British people do support them.

"I think it is something people will realise the British people want"

But left-wing activist Andy Newman, who is secretary of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition and Socialist Unity camdidate in this month's General Election in the North Swindon constituency said: "There is not a single crime that it would solve, and it could lead to more crime because within months forged cards would be available."

"For example, the 9/11 bombers were all in America legally, and could have had ID cards.

"It doesn't change people's behaviour.

"There is also the problem of creating a huge national computer database.

"This is bound to create problems with hacking."