Peers plan to inflict triple blow to Clarke's Bills

In a meeting with 50 crossbench peers yesterday, the Home Secretary urged them not to wreck the plans for identity cards, detention of terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge, and the new offence of inciting religious hatred.

Peers who oppose ID cards have been emboldened by the fact that Labour's majority on the proposals fell to just 25 in the Commons this week. The ID card scheme will begin its Lords passage on 31 October.

Mr Clarke argued that ID cards would help protect citizens against the "big brother state" and insisted terrorist attacks on London had altered the balance between protecting life and defending individual liberties.

* The Government is considering setting up a new compensation scheme for British victims of terrorism, Tony Blair said. He wanted to speed up payment of compensation to those hurt in the July 7 bombings.