1:32am UK, Sunday July 03, 2005

The head of the London School of Economics has accused Government ministers of bullying academics who produced a report critical of their plans for ID cards.

180 mock identity card ID card

The public is unsure of ID cards

A report by the LSE claimed the ID cards scheme could cost  over  £19bn 10 years - more than three times the Government's estimate.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the study's findings were "fabricated".

The director of the LSE, Howard Davies, has written to The Times to protest at Mr Clarke's comments.