Brian Dash, Parliamentary Spokesman
for the New Forest Liberal Democrats, has condemned the Labour
government plans to introduce Identity cards.
This is what Tony Blair said about I.D. cards
before he was Prime Minister :
"Instead
of wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on compulsory
ID cards
as the Tory Right demand, let that money provide thousands
of extra police
officers on the beat in our local communities."
(Speech
to the Labour Party Conference 3 October 1995. Part of
the "Tough on
Crime" speech)
Brian
says "It would seem that Mr Blair has changed
his stance entirely on this issue. No doubt he will argue
that the increased risk of terrorism has changed his mind.
However, I.D. cards would not have stopped the 9/11 tragedy
or the Madrid bombing. Most experts agree that I.D. cards
will do little to counter the threat of terrorism. The money
could much better be spent on crime fighting measures".
The conservatives, who claim to be the party
of small government, have decided to back the Labour plans
which will take years to implement and cost millions of pounds. |
