At a private briefing in Downing Street for a group of Labour party researchers, Andy Burnham, a Home Office minister, said the government was considering forcing anyone who had to go through a criminal record check to hold an ID card.

This would include teachers and childcare workers, who must be vetted before they can work with children, and criminals and people requesting firearms licences.

Charles Clarke, the home secretary, has not yet approved the idea and Home Office sources say it is still “early days”. However, Burnham’s words underline Tony Blair’s desire to push ahead with the ID card scheme.