THE British Prime Minister, Mr Major, will attempt to defuse the row about whether the Union Jack should appear alongside the EU flag on a new identity card by imposing a compromise this week.
Tory backbenchers are furious that the Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, has advised that the Union Jack should not appear on the cards because Irish nationalists would be offended. He also pointed out that flags are a sensitive issue in Northern Ireland and warned of dangerous repercussions.
However, Mr David Wilshire, vice chairman of the Conservative backbench Northern Ireland committee, denounced Sir Pathrick's warning, describing it as a "sell out to Dublin".
He added "The English will not tolerate being told that we cannot display our United Kingdom status because a few hundred thousand people will not like it."
But Sir Patrick's view is supported by the Scottish and Welsh nationalists, who have also argued that they do not identify with the Union Jack.
Ms Fiona Hyslop, of the Scottish National Party, said two thirds of Scottish people regarded themselves as Scots rather than British.
In Belfast, the DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, commented. "The Union Flag is our flag and it seems to me typical of the compromising attitude of this government that if some nationalists or republicans should object, then obviously you have to climb down and that has been the policy of this Conservative government for a very long period of time."
The DUP councillor, Mr Sammy Wilson, said nationalists would accept an identity card with the Union Jack, Queen Elizabeth's head, the royal crest or even King Billy on it, "provided it entitles them to state benefits".
But the Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Joe Austin, said there were already numerous documents which provided ample proof of identification.
British Home Office sources hinted yesterday that ministers are now considering using the royal crest, which appears on British passports, instead of the Union Jack.