Starmer's humiliating U-turn on digital ID has left his leadership in tatters |
What makes this Government’s 13th U-turn in 18 months the most damaging yet for Sir Keir Starmer’s authority is that it was his project. No 10 can’t blame anyone else.
Come their introduction in 2029, digital IDs were originally going to be required for right to work checks as a part of a crackdown on illegal migrant workers. On Tuesday, sources said the Government will remove the required element and digital IDs will be sold simply as a tool to manage access to public services.
By Wednesday, Labour MPs weary of Starmer’s self-inflicted wounds were fed up. “You could see this coming a mile off,” one told The i Paper.
It’s another example of Labour shooting itself in the foot, after an announcement overnight about northern rail was diluted by the U-turn. And it was a gift to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons, allowing her to claim Starmer has “no sense of direction”.
Clearly, Labour’s joke-writers had a busy morning. Starmer dubbed the........