Today, in my role as Shadow Minister, I used both of my allotted questions to directly challenge the Government on these poorly thought-through plans to introduce mandatory Digital ID for UK residents.
While the Government describes the scheme as voluntary, it has become increasingly clear that, in practice, people would not be able to work without obtaining one, and a system that effectively becomes a requirement for everyday life cannot honestly be described as voluntary.
Mandatory Digital ID is not a well-thought-through policy. At an estimated cost of £1.8 billion, it appears to be a solution in search of a problem, rather than a practical response to a clearly defined need. Instead, it seems designed to appease elements of the Labour Party, without sufficient consideration on the impact on ordinary people's individual freedoms and privacy.
It is also deeply concerning that the Prime Minister appears unwilling to challenge officials who have once again taken this idea off the shelf, despite its significant flaws and the widespread public unease it has generated.
I will continue to press for answers and stand up for the rights and freedoms of my constituents, ensuring that any proposals of this nature are properly examined and robustly challenged before they are allowed to progress further.
