Digital ID

Richard Burgon Excerpts

Monday 13th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Liz Kendall]

I have already said that the scheme will not be used for that. In many other countries these systems have made accessing Government and public services much easier, quicker and more efficient. I think there is some scaremongering about this issue. Such schemes in other countries really have made Government fit around people, rather than making people fit into Government and their different services, and I think that is a huge benefit.

[Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (Lab)]

Given the serious threats that digital ID poses to civil liberties and our data security and the risk of our data being handed over to US tech giants, I am firmly opposed to it. However, is it not also a real big waste of money, and should the Government not instead focus on the No. 1 priority of people across the country, which is tackling the cost of living crisis? Would it not be better to push the money from this into that while safeguarding civil liberties?

[Liz Kendall]

I think that providing better value for taxpayer money by getting services to work more quickly, effectively and efficiently and by cracking down on fraud and reducing error and waste is a really important part of delivering for the British people.