Victory for Liberal Democrats as ID cards to be scrapped within 100 days

9.40.50am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th May 2010

Fred Mackintosh and Mike Pringle MSP are opposed to Labour's flawed ID Card scheme

The Coalition Government today announced that ID cards are to be scrapped for British citizens within 100 days. The Liberal Democrats have campaigned against the introduction of ID cards since they were first announced by the previous Labour Government.

Commenting on today's announcement, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The wasteful, bureaucratic and intrusive ID card scheme represents everything that has been wrong with government in recent years.

"By taking swift action to scrap it, we are making it clear that this government won't sacrifice people's liberty for the sake of Ministers' pet projects.

"Cancelling the scheme and abolishing the National Identity Register is a major step in dismantling the surveillance state - but ID cards are just the tip of the iceberg. Today marks the start of a series of radical reforms to restore hard-won British freedoms."