Keir Starmer savaged over ‘big fat socialist dreams’ in digital ID takedown | Politics | News
Critics criticized Labor as unable to resist its “big, fat socialist dreams” that would radically reshape the state’s relationship with ordinary people.
Shadow science, innovation and technology secretary Julia Lopez claimed plans for digital identity cards would “fundamentally change the balance of power between citizens and state”.
Labour’s Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall claimed in a debate in Parliament that the controversial plan would “offer greater security and indeed greater control over your own data”.
It confirms the mission drag of the plan, which was initially proposed as a method of combating illegal work. However, it is now being extended to other Government services.
Ms Kendall said data was “much less likely to be lost or stolen” and continued: “Privacy and security will be built into the system from the start.”
Ms Kendall said a customer could “prove they are over 18 without revealing your exact date of birth”.
He also said the new digital ID would “provide greater fairness by showing exactly who has the right to work here in the UK.”
But Ms Lopez told the Commons: “He announced this not here in this House, but on the love of the progressive left, sponsored by Labor Together and haunted by the specter of Tony Blair.
“The justification was his own disastrous failure on immigration. He knows it won’t stop the boats and when Brits are forced to get IDs while illegal immigration continues unabated, it will only confirm the fears of a two-tiered society, fueling division and conspiracy theories, and he arrogantly claims to have the antidote.”
Ms Lopez later added: “This cunning plan was not in Labour’s manifesto. Even the cabinet thinks it’s all a fantasy.”
He told MPs: “This isn’t a matter of luddite versus modernisers. It’s about the fact that Labor can’t stand up to their big socialist dreams – centralized databases, state power, big money, exclusion of private sector expertise. Why have you created this honeypot for hackers?”
Responding, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Liz Kendall said: “Well, this is definitely the first time I’ve been called a ‘huge socialist’.”
Ms Kendall previously announced plans to consult on the Government’s plans “by the end of this year”.
Defending the controversial plan, the minister took a new step for digital identity, claiming that disconnected government systems were causing people to “feel like a number on a list rather than a human being with a life”.
He continued: “I’m sure many respected members will know that this is an unnervingly similar story – being passed around from one person to another, being asked to repeat their story and provide basic information over and over again. They are created to fit into a system rather than the system that works for them, which ultimately leaves them feeling like a number on a list rather than a human being with a life.”
Ms Kendall described the new system as “a digital key that unlocks better, more joined-up and effective public services”.
He added that the government aims to “learn from” other countries such as Denmark, Finland and Estonia.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted digital identity cards are needed to prevent migrants from working in Britain’s thriving underground economy.
But critics and privacy advocates fear it could be extended to a wider range of Government services.
