Overwhelming digital ID card concerns cannot be ignored

Helen has urged the Government to “heed the calls” of thousands in the county who signed a petition to scrap mandatory digital ID cards.

She said ministers should listen to constituents after the petition to cancel the controversial scheme secured enough signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament.

Data has revealed that more than 15,000 people across Shropshire signed the public e-petition, which saw nearly three million signatures overall.

Helen expressed concern about mandatory digital IDs, including what it might mean for digitally excluded people, and emphasised that people in North Shropshire had expressed their concerns about the scheme.

Helen said: “The fact that so many in Shropshire have signed this petition, including more than 5,200 in North Shropshire, shows that people have overwhelming and legitimate concerns about mandatory digital IDs.

“We cannot live in a country where sharing your identity with the Government is a prerequisite for getting a job or accessing public services. It is also incredibly concerning that the 8.5 million people who lack fundamental digital skills, including the elderly and disabled, could be excluded from society.

“Ministers need to listen to constituents. Mandatory digital IDs need to be scrapped.”

The debate on the petition not to introduce the digital ID card scheme took place in Westminster Hall on Monday (8th December).

The policy was announced by the Prime Minister in September and has since faced a significant amount of criticism.

The full list of the number of people who signed the petition in each constituency can be found here.

The petition can be found here.