Opposing Labour’s Plans for Digital ID Cards

This week, I joined my Liberal Democrat colleagues in launching a national petition against the Labour Government’s plans to introduce mandatory Digital ID cards. You can sign the petition here: libdems.org.uk/nodigitalid.

For me, this issue is simple. Digital ID cards are an expensive gimmick. They would cost taxpayers billions, with no guarantee of success. Time and again, government tech projects have wasted huge sums of public money and delivered very little in return. Instead of pouring money into a scheme that risks excluding people, the Government should be focusing on fixing the NHS and tackling the cost of living crisis – the real priorities for people in North East Fife.

I’m particularly concerned about the impact on those who are already digitally excluded. That includes older people, those living in poverty, and disabled people. These groups are more likely to struggle with mandatory digital systems, and introducing an ID scheme like this would only deepen inequality.

The Labour Party has long been obsessed with ID cards and greater state control. The Liberal Democrats opposed them under Tony Blair, and we won – and I promise we will fight these plans tooth and nail again today.

At a time when people are waiting weeks for GP appointments, struggling to pay their bills, and worrying about the future, this is the last thing the Government should be spending time and money on.

I want to be clear: I will continue to stand up for my constituents and fight against this wasteful and unnecessary proposal.

You can read more and join our campaign here: libdems.org.uk/nodigitalid.