The government could rush through plans to introduce identity cards within six months as part of its crackdown on terrorism.

Recruitment industry leaders have backed the idea, claiming it would help verify the identity of candidates for sensitive posts.

Ann Swain, chief executive of IT trade body the Association of Technology and Staffing Companies, said: “ID cards have the potential to benefit the recruitment industry.

“At the moment we have to check people’s backgrounds and verify their history and an ID card gives us an opportunity to make this easier. I don’t think they infringe on human rights and they have them in every other European country.”