Dusty Wentworth

The government’s plan to introduce a compulsory digital ID—marketed as the “BritCard”—is more than just another contentious policy. It is a glaring window into the weakness of the Prime Minister’s leadership, the outsourcing of ideas to external actors, and the panic setting in as Reform UK surges in popularity. Far from strengthening Britain’s borders, the scheme risks wasting money, deepening public distrust, and exposing the government’s detachment from the public mood. Labour’s Historic Reversal The Labour Party once defined itself squarely against compulsory ID. In 2010, after years of controversy, it was Labour in government that scrapped the preceding Blair/Brown ID card scheme, describing it as intrusive and wasteful. The 2010 Labour manifesto pledged to end it entirely, a clear recognition of public opposition and civil liberties concerns. For years, the very mention of ID cards was treated as a cautionary tale of government overreach. Fast forward to 2025, and a L...