Liberal Democrats launch attack on Brown's surveillance society

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Aug 2007

no2id logo - the anti-identity card (id card) and national identity database campaign

At the Liberal Democrat party conference next month, Sir Menzies Campbell and Shadow Home Secretary Nick Clegg will launch an attack on Britain's "surveillance society''. The party will use the conference to launch a campaign to roll back legislation which has gone too far. This includes the Identity Cards Act 2006, the creation of a national identity register and proposals for wide ranging data-sharing powers across Whitehall departments. At a rally on Sunday, and during a debate on Thursday, Liberal Democrats will also demand greater safeguards on CCTV cameras, DNA database, the Information Commissioner and intercept warrants.

Nick Clegg said "Gordon Brown has gained considerable political advantage by striking a new tone on civil liberties, parliamentary accountability and cross-party cooperation. But on substance, rather than tone, Brown remains wedded to an unchanged Blairite agenda. In these circumstances we have decided to make the protection of traditional British liberties and personal privacy a major line of attack in the autumn and winter. Britain needs a champion of liberty now more than ever."