‘Reverse Midas touch’: Starmer plan prompts collapse in support for digital IDs

<p>Net public backing for scheme has fallen to -14% after prime minister’s announcement, according to polling</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/01/keir-starmer-labour-conference-nigel-farage-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">UK politics live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Public support for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/idcards">digital IDs</a> has collapsed after Keir Starmer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/26/keir-starmer-digital-id-cards-enormous-opportunity-uk">announced plans</a> for their introduction, in what has been described as a symptom of the prime minister’s “reverse Midas touch”.</p><p>Net support for digital ID cards fell from 35% in the early summer to -14% at the weekend after Starmer’s announcement, according to polling by More in Common.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/01/keir-starmer-labour-collapse-public-support-digital-id-cards">Continue reading...</a>