The Liberal Democrats have announced they will not support the UK government’s mandatory digital ID legislation after Sir Keir Starmer plans to move forward with the biometric initiative.

In response to the expectation that the Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s plans for a compulsory digital ID scheme in his speech, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Science, Innovation & Technology Victoria Collins and [1] MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted stated that the Liberal Democrats will [2] not support a mandatory digital ID that requires individuals to surrender their private data for daily activities. “Liberal Democrats cannot support a mandatory digital ID where people are forced to turn over their private data just to go about their daily lives. People shouldn’t be turned into criminals just because they can’t have a digital ID, or choose not to. This will be especially worrying to millions of older people, people living in poverty and disabled people who are more likely to be digitally excluded,” said Collins.

Other Lib Dem politicians in the House of Commons have also shared their concerns, Andrew George [3] an MP for St Ives voiced [4] his opposition to the digital ID scheme in his blog, “I remain unconvinced of the case for digital ID cards. They pose a threat to civil liberties, privacy, and the inclusive society we value; and risk creating a two-tier Britain, where access to essential services could become conditional on digital compliance. The Liberal Democrats have consistently led the opposition to plans to bring in ID cards. The party campaigned against their introduction two decades ago because they were expensive, unnecessary, and a huge threat to people’s privacy,” said George, “I will support calls for a legal right not to be compelled into digital ID systems, and to ensure that no one is denied access to public services for refusing to submit to digital surveillance. Instead of pursuing divisive and illiberal policies, the Government should focus on the major problems they have inherited from the previous Conservative administration: the health and care crisis, the sewage scandal, and the cost of living.”

Caron Lindsay blogger for [5] the Liberal Democrat Voice, has also voiced [6] her concern on the digital ID legislation, “For me, the relationship between the citizen and the state is very much that the latter is the servant of the former, not the other way around and the idea of compulsory ID turns that on its head. I am so profligate with my data, probably irresponsibly so one look at my social media apps and Apple wallet tells you that. I have so many digital cards from supermarkets but digital id from the state is not the same thing. I can terminate my relationship with Sainsbury’s or Morrison’s whenever I want and pay £1.35 more for my butter if I choose. I am not up for a huge state database that can identify all the groups at risk of persecution should the bad people get into power,” said Lindsay.

Lord Blunkett [7] a Labour peer who worked [8] on the Identity Cards Bill during the Labour government under former Prime Minister Tony Blair [9] welcomed the digital ID scheme. “Age verification to protect our children and young people; avoidance of exploitation by organised criminals abusing people in the sub-economy; acting as a deterrent to unauthorised entry across the Channel and protection from fraud are just some of the benefits which could arise from a well-implemented programme. It is the unplanned, current mish-mash that presents a threat to people’s privacy as well as a risk of data breach, fraudulent stealing of identity and misuse.” 

However the leaders of [10] the Tories and Reform UK have voiced their opposition to the legislation, Kemi Badenoch who is [11] the Shadow Opposition leader said, “The Conservatives will oppose any push by this organisation or the government to impose mandatory ID cards on law-abiding citizens. We will not support any system that is mandatory for British people or excludes those of us who choose not to use it from any of the rights of our citizenship.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and [12] MP for Clacton, also said, “It will make no difference to illegal immigration, but it will be used to control and penalise the rest of us.”