Last year's position : Not Placed

If Blunkett gets his way, the introduction of a highly controversial national biometric ID card scheme will be making its way through Parliament next year, though he still faces stiff opposition from both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - the latter reluctant to slacken the Treasury purse strings and stump up the £3bn it will reportedly cost.

The world is watching and serious concerns remain over the security and scope of the scheme. The panel noted his "totally cavalier" attitude to civil liberties. Not content with ID cards, Blunkett's somewhat Orwellian achievements also include overseeing the introduction of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers 'snooping' Act and an equally unworkable and controversial data retention code for ISPs as part of the Anti-Terrorism Act.