Starmer hopes digital ID will draw clear dividing line between Labour and its opponentspublished at 06:51 BST
06:51 BST
Chris Mason
Political editor
The prime minister will address a conference of centre-left world leaders later and argue it is time to “look ourselves in the mirror and recognise where we’ve allowed our parties to shy away from people’s concerns.”
He’ll talk about his plan for digital ID at the gathering, which will be attended by Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
He hopes it is a practical example of how he can give definition to his premiership, have what he hopes is a useful tool in tackling illegal working and therefore illegal immigration, and give himself a useful political dividing line with his opponents.
Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party are opposed to the plan.
The Conservative position is more ambiguous. They see it for now at least as a “desperate gimmick” but do remain open to being persuaded it is a good idea.
Is it something he can lean into as a defining idea of his time in office and help him address the predicament he and his party find themselves in? He has to hope so.