Joint Letter regarding Keir Starmer's plans for mandatory digital ID

Liz Jarvis MP has signed the following letter from Lib Dem MPs calling on Keir Starmer to rethink his plans for mandatory digital ID. A mandatory digital ID system risks deepening digital exclusion. It would disproportionately affect older people, disabled people, and those living in poverty.

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to express our strong opposition to your proposal for a mandatory, nationwide digital ID system.

The imposition of a mandatory digital ID card would redraw the relationship between the citizen and state while doing very little to achieve the government's stated objectives on immigration enforcement. Such a scheme would threaten the right to privacy in a free and open society. It risks expanding state control and encouraging the collection of unnecessary personal data. Digital tools should empower individuals - giving people more control over their privacy and data - not serve as a mechanism for giving government more control over the public. A mandatory ID scheme, where people have no choice, threatens the very foundations of Britain's long history as a liberal democracy.

Liberals are always suspicious of concentrations of power and the overreach of government.

While people might take a balanced view on the intentions of governments of different stripes, we live in uncertain times. As liberals, we are concerned that a possible future far-right, authoritarian government would abuse such a system to the detriment of British citizens - especially those in minority groups or those who express dissent.

Even today, the practical impact on the most marginalised in society is an area of great concern. A mandatory digital ID system risks deepening digital exclusion. It would disproportionately affect older people, disabled people, and those living in poverty - groups that often face limited access to digital technology or low digital literacy.

After years of Conservative mismanagement, public services are stretched. The immigration and asylum system is clearly in crisis. At this moment, it is deeply irresponsible to cite the dysfunctional immigration and asylum system as evidence to support this proposal. How will a digital ID card prevent criminal gangs or irresponsible employers doing what they currently do - ignoring the rules? Instead, if the government really wants to restore public trust in the immigration system, it should spend the money on Nightingale asylum processing centres, as the Liberal Democrats have called for, to clear the asylum backlog.

Should your government choose to pursue this plan further, it must be subject to full parliamentary debate, a free vote and proper public consultation. This fundamental adjustment to the relationship between citizen and state must not be introduced without proper scrutiny and democratic consent.

The Liberal Democrats are proud to have led the charge against Labour's attempts to introduce mandatory ID cards in the 2000s. We are prepared to do so again.

We conclude with the words of Harry Willcock: "I'm a liberal and I'm against this sort of thing."

Yours sincerely,

Max Wilkinson MP

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs

Member of Parliament for Cheltenham

Victoria Collins MP

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology 

Member of Parliament for Harpenden and Berkhamsted

Manuela Perteghella MP

Mike Martin MP

Cameron Thomas MP

Jamie Stone MP

Liz Jarvis MP

Zöe Franklin MP

Vikki Slade MP

Daisy Cooper MP

Pippa Heylings MP

Sarah Gibson MP