"But leader Sir Ed Davey said "times have changed" and the party should look at the issue again and not be "knee-jerk" in its opposition. He said he had been impressed by a visit to Estonia, where a liberal government had brought in digital ID that he said was "very different" to the scheme proposed by Tony Blair when he was prime minister."
"This was because it was not about "state control of information", which he said was due to Estonians having been occupied by Russia for decades. If a UK system was about "giving individuals power to access public services" Sir Ed said could be in favour because "that could increase people's freedom and rights", but he warned against a model that could be abused by an "authoritarian" government."
The Liberal Democrats are weighing a change to their longstanding opposition to ID cards after leader Sir Ed Davey said "times have changed" and urged against a "knee-jerk" stance. Davey cited a visit to Estonia and praised its liberal government's digital ID as "very different" from past UK proposals, arguing a system that gives individuals power to access public services could increase freedom and rights. Two-thirds of conference attendees backed debating a policy change, but members and Lib Dem home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart warned votes may not precede government legislation. Concerns over civil liberties and data security remain prominent.
Read at www.bbc.com
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