Starmer’s change of heart another ‘almighty backtracking’

Abandoning plans to make digital ID compulsory for workers in the UK represents a major step back and watering down of one of the prime minister’s key policy ideas from the autumn.

I remember when Sir Keir Starmer first talked publicly about his plans because he was talking to me as he did it.

It was September and we were hiding from the pouring rain in a metal stairwell next to a giant ship built by BAE Systems on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow.

What he had to say that day was overshadowed by the storm surrounding then-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who was unemployed 24 hours later.

What those around him described as “phase 2” of his government had already had a bumpy start, but digital identity was seen as a decisive parliamentary idea that the prime minister could own and then lean into the controversies he had fomented with rivals within and outside his party.

The point is that this has sparked more controversy than perhaps he expected, including from some Labor MPs.

This was the mandatory element that became a magnet for the harshest criticism.

The idea gained popularity. It revived many of the arguments that defeated the last Labor government’s ID card plans nearly two decades ago.

Critics’ sense of an oppressive state, a ‘show us your papers’ society.

So what did the ministers do? They threw away the mandatory element of it.

People will still need to prove digitally that they have the right to work, but they can use other things to do so.

This new government digital ID will not be required.

The argument I hear within the government is that they scrap the unpopular part but keep something that people can choose to use themselves because it might make it easier to access public services, for example.

In short, the entire initial public presentation of why digital identity is a good idea (the fight against illegal immigration and illegal work) has been shelved.

The emphasis is now on digital identity helping consumers.

One government official told me: “Let’s get rid of the whole culture war thing altogether and focus on the pragmatic element that many people will like and choose to use.”

Others say that if the prime minister is really going to focus on the cost of living when discussing domestic policies, he should scrap the unpopular things that stand in the way of that.

While opposition parties also expressed their criticism, they welcomed the government’s change of mind.

Downing Street’s political problem is that upswings, dilutions, U-turns, turnarounds – whatever you want to call them – are on the rise.

In the last few weeks alone there have been issues regarding business rates and farmers’ inheritance for pubs in England.

Before this, there were also income tax, benefit deductions and winter fuel payments, among others.

Critics of Sir Keir Starmer from outside and inside are drawing attention.

Just hours before this latest reversal, Health Minister Wes Streeting, who dreams of one day becoming prime minister himself, said it was important for the government to “get it right the first time”.

To put it politely, this is a work in progress for Sir Keir Starmer.