Nick Clegg, the odds-on favourite to become Liberal Democrat leader, yesterday announced that he will break the law and refuse to provide details of his identity if the government presses ahead with plans to make ID cards compulsory.
Drawing a parallel with resistance to the poll tax, he said he would also urge his fellow MPs and Lib Dem councils not to cooperate. Under the existing law, many British citizens will have their details voluntarily placed on to the ID card database when they apply for a passport or a driving licence.
After 2010 details will be automatically placed on the database. Ministers have said at that point they will pass primary legislation so individuals still not on the database will be required to provide the Home Office with relevant details.
Mr Clegg said last night: "If the legislation is passed I will lead a grassroots campaign of civil disobedience to thwart the identity cards programme ... I, and I expect thousands of people like me, will simply refuse ever to register."