Fair enough …it takes a brave man to admit his mistakes, and all that. David Blunkett – the former Labour Home Secretary who actually introduced the idea of identity cards – now realises that the idea was big-brother-gone-mad and that compulsory ID cards for everyone is not the way to go. Just give them to foreigners, he says now. He’s also not convinced that the current minister, Jacqui ‘where do I live?’ Smith, has the right idea with her giant central database to snoop on people’s phone calls, texts and web surfing habits… (but presumably not their dubious living arrangements and expense claims?).  Quote: “If we tolerate the intolerable, the intolerable gradually becomes the norm”.

Like politicians you mean, David?   We agree.