Support for digital IDs collapses

Public support for the introduction of a national digital ID scheme has plummeted following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement of the plan, a decline attributed to the scheme's association with an unpopular government. Polling by More in Common revealed that net support for digital ID cards fell from 35% in early summer to -14% after the announcement. The post-announcement polling showed that only 31% of people were supportive, with 45% opposed. The extent of this public opposition is echoed by an online petition against the introduction of the IDs that has now received over 2.6 million signatures.

Ministers plan to roll out the digital IDs, which will be compulsory for Right to Work checks and stored on smartphones, before the next election. Alongside efforts to curb illegal working, the scheme is also intended to streamline access to public services and combat fraud. Advocates of the policy are reportedly frustrated by its presentation and fear it may now be "dead in the water." Luke Tryl, Executive Director for More in Common, suggested that for the government to rebuild support by articulating a clearer use case, and warned that the policy risks becoming a liability in the face of organised opposition.

Meanwhile, a report in The National (£) highlights that proposed mandatory digital ID schemes are highly susceptible to mission creep, posing significant and disproportionate threats to civil liberties, privacy, and equality.

While the scheme is being positioned primarily as a tool for immigration enforcement and right-to-work checks, critics argue this is a red herring. They contend that non-compliant employers operating "off-the-books" will not adopt the system, instead driving unauthorised migrants further into precarious work. Moreover, there is concern that the mandatory ID would disproportionately affect minoritised groups, who are likely to be asked to prove their identity more frequently than others.

The core threat lies in the ability of digital ID systems to link government records via a single unique identifier, dismantling existing data silos that currently safeguard against excessive cross-departmental data-sharing. This would allow the state to build a comprehensive picture of an individual's life, accumulating vast power with few clear benefits for citizens.

Proponents suggest public comfort with big tech sharing data means that citizens are more willing to accept a digital ID. However, civil liberties advocates stress that the relationship between the citizen and the state differs fundamentally from a voluntary relationship with a private company. They warn that once such a system is built, it will be difficult to dismantle, leaving future governments with access to massive, searchable databases of personal data.

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