MANDATORY DIGITAL ID DROPPED: STARMER’S 13th U-TURN! Brendan O’Neill on Digital ID, institutional Islamism, and why the ‘luvvies’ have been quiet on Iran

The Julia Hartley-Brewer Show · Jan 14, 2026 · 12m

Brendan O’Neill, chief political writer at Spiked Online, discusses another government U-turn with Julia - this time on the introduction of mandatory digital ID.

Rights campaigners have long criticised digital ID as a dangerous infringement on British people’s right to privacy.

Previously, Keir Starmer’s government argued it would help reduce migration.

It was intended to prevent illegal migrants from working on the black market, but politicians and campaigners questioned whether the ID would act as a successful deterrent. And it was estimated to cost £1.8 billion over three years.

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