Wiltshire MP creates petition against Government's Digital ID Card plan
Chippenham's Sarah Gibson is backing a campaign to scrap the proposals
A Wiltshire MP has created a petition in opposition to the Government's plans for mandatory digital ID cards.
Sarah Gibson for Chippenham, Calne, Corsham and Royal Wooton Bassett has set up the petition, saying the proposal needs to be scrapped.
She says the Labour Party has long been "obsessed" with ID Cards and more state control.
Labour attempted to introduce ID cards under Tony Blair's leadership, which was blocked by opposition parties.
Ms Gibson told Greatest Hits Radio that she "cannot support" the idea of people being forced to handover private data in order to go about their daily lives.
She said: "It's the mandatory part of this proposal that is the issue. Other forms of ID are given through consent, like passports and driving licences. But being forced to have a form of digital ID is where I'm uncomfortable. People shouldn't be turned into criminals just because they can't have a digital ID or choose not to."
The Liberal Democrat added that the ID cards will cost "billions, with no guarantee of success", as well as causing a lot of concern among the elderly, the disabled and those living in poverty.
Ms Gibson said they're more likely to be digitally excluded.
"What is going to happen to them if they can't access their digital ID?," she asked. "This process will not just cost us in terms of setting up the scheme, but it could cost us economically if millions of people are excluded from work because they are genuinely unable to access their digital ID or scared of the system."
She said that the Government's focus should be on slashing GP waiting times, fixing social care or processing asylum seeker applications.
When announcing the scheme, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the project would address concerns over illegal migration to the UK.
He called secure borders and controlled migration "reasonable demands", insisting the Government is listening.
The PM said: "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.
We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain for those who want to see change, not division. That is at the heart of our Plan for Change, which is focused on delivering for those who want to see their communities thrive again."