Petition Calling On Keir Starmer To Scrap Digital ID Cards Hits 1,000,000
When we wrote about the petition to block plans for a government-issued digital ID card earlier today, the petition was sitting at 500,000 signatures.
Just a few hours later, it’s hit one million and counting.
This comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the plans this morning, insiting that these so-called Brit-cards ‘will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure’.
However, critics point out that all the evidence from countries with established digital ID systems shows it won’t reduce the problem at all. People will just find a way around digital ID, just like they find a way around everything else.
Aside from not solving the problem they say the ID is being introduced to solve, it will also leave the personal information of millions at risk of data leaks and cyber attacks.
The petition, which is still rising rapidly, says the digital ID system is ‘a step towards mass surveillance and digital control.’
Confirming the measure this morning, Sir Keir said: ‘I know working people are worried about the level of illegal migration into this country.
‘A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands, and this government is listening and delivering.
‘Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure.
‘And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly – rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.’
Starmer confirmed that people will require a digital ID in order to work in the UK and that the immigration system needed to be ‘fair’ in order to not undermine ‘people’s faith that we’re on their side and their belief that the state can and will work for them’.
Sir Keir said: ‘Let me spell it out, you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.
‘It’s as simple as that because decent, pragmatic, fair-minded people, they want us to tackle the issues that they see around them.’
At the point where Keir Starmer and the government realise that digital IDs won’t change anything, they will then probably move towards a cashless society, which is a more effective way of solving the problem they say they want to solve. However, if people are this adamant about not wanting digital ID, just imagine how bad the backlash will be toward a society where all money is digital?
Remains to be seen whether the backlash against the Brit-card will be enough to shut down the idea for another few years. Just when you thought Keir Starmer couldn’t get any less popular, eh?
