Welsh Liberal Democrats say the Government is “turning a blind eye” to what people want, as 154,919 people in Wales sign a petition to stop digital IDs

David Chadwick, the Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, has called on ministers to listen to his constituents by scrapping their controversial mandatory digital ID policy following a debate in Westminster Hall on the issue.

During his speech in Parliament, David Chadwick invoked the spirit of Harry Willcock, a British Liberal Party activist who is best remembered for being the last person in the United Kingdom to be prosecuted for refusing to produce an identity card in the 1950s.

Data has revealed that 4,587 people have signed the public e-petition in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe and over 154,919 people in Wales. The petition has over 3 million signatures across the entire UK.

A debate in Westminster took place this week (Monday 8th December) about the policy, which has faced a significant amount of criticism since being announced by the Prime Minister.

David Chadwick MP expressed concern about mandatory digital IDs, including what it might mean for digitally excluded people, and emphasised that people in his constituency have “overwhelming concerns” about the scheme.

He also highlighted the sheer cost of the scheme, which is predicted to be over £1.8 billion, money that many say is a poor use of public funds at a time when the country is facing significant pressure on its public services. Chadwick also highlighted that if the project followed the trajectory of many past Government projects, the eventual cost could far exceed the predicted £1.8 billion.

He also stated that the scheme will not tackle illegal immigration, noting that if ID schemes were effective at tackling the issue, the need to have a national insurance number and ID checks during workplace applications already would have solved the issue.

The Liberal Democrats have further warned that so much personal data located in one place would be a ‘gold mine’ for hackers.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said:

“The fact that so many in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe have signed this petition shows how people in my constituency have overwhelming and legitimate concerns about mandatory digital IDs, yet the Government is turning a blind eye to them.

“With a price tag already at £1.8 billion and likely to rise given the history of major IT projects, it is astonishing that Ministers consider this a sensible priority.

“It is also clear that the scheme simply won’t deliver. If an identity number alone could solve complex issues like illegal immigration, our National Insurance system would have done so long ago. Instead, this proposal threatens to divert money and attention from the services people actually rely on: policing, the NHS, local councils and border security.

“The Government must recognise this scheme for what it is: an expensive distraction with little real benefit. It should be scrapped immediately, and the funding redirected to the real priorities of the people we represent.”

ENDS