Hampshire MP against Labour plans for digital ID cards

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech to the Global Progress Action Summit, at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London. Picture date: Friday September 26, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech to the Global Progress Action Summit, at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London. Picture date: Friday September 26, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire (Image: PA)
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Opposition politicians in the region have spoken out against the potential introduction of digital identity cards.

MP Paul Holmes criticised Sir Keir Starmer's proposal for a national digital ID scheme.

Digital IDs will become mandatory to prove the right to work, but people will not be required to carry the document or be asked to produce it.

All UK citizens and everyone who wants to work in the UK will have to have one.

The Conservative MP for the Hamble Valley said: "The answer to controlled and sustainable immigration is not a digital ID card, it’s processing and deportations.

"Labour have a history of wanting centralised national ID schemes.

"I’ll oppose them in Parliament.

"I’ll never vote for ID cards (digital or not)."

His comments follow similar concerns raised by Liberal Democrat Councillor David Harrison, who questioned the necessity and effectiveness of the policy.

Councillor Harrison said: "My party, the Liberal Democrats, have always been pretty quick to oppose the idea of compulsory identity cards.

"It goes against our instincts to have an overbearing state that can criminalise people for not following unnecessary rules."

He also questioned whether such a scheme would deter illegal immigration.

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