David Blunkett's plans to introduce identity cards for every citizen in Britain have been shot down after a coalition of Cabinet ministers argued the proposals were "flawed" and would lead to a political backlash.

Foreign secretary Jack Straw warned in a letter to the prime minister: "The proposed plan is flawed and no tinkering with particular issues will be able to resolve what is a fundamental political matter."

Downing Street sources have now indicated that the ID cards will not be introduced in the Queen's Speech, but will be investigated by a Cabinet committee headed by John Prescott, the deputy prime minister.