The British government has succeeded in passing a bill to introduce a national identity card system despite a cross-party revolt.
The Identity Cards Bill was given a second reading in the House of Commons last night by 385 votes to 93, a government majority of 292.
Earlier, a rare cross-party move to deny the Bill a second reading was rejected by 306 to 93, a government majority of 213.
Seventeen Labour MPs voted for the rebel amendment seeking to block the Bill. Nine Tory MPs did the same, defying their party's official line.
The Labour rebels included former ministers Ms Clare Short and Ms Glenda Jackson, and the depth of unease across the Commons about the government's plans was reflected by the number of abstentions - between 170 and 180 MPs did not vote.
The revolt was an embarrassment both for Prime Minister Tony Blair and Tory leader Michael Howard, who threw his party's support behind the legislation.
In the first test of his authority, just five days after taking over from Mr David Blunkett, new Home Secretary Mr Charles Clarke denied ID cards marked an erosion of civil liberties and insisted they would help prevent terrorism and combat fraud.