The government is considering teaching core "British values" in schools. For once I find myself agreeing with the government.

So the next question is: what exactly are core British values? Here are three I'd choose:

• The supremacy of the people
  The people give the government leave to exist - not the other way round
  
  
• The importance of privacy
  The government's information on individuals should be restricted to the minimum necessary
  
  
• The assumption of innocence
  People should be able to go about their legal business without constantly having to explain, identify or justify themselves
  
  

I suspect most Brits would agree with those values.

All three are under threat from Tony Blair's proposed scheme to impose compulsory National Identity Cards and a huge, intrusive National Identity Register.