Net public backing for digital ID cards has fallen to -14% after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for their introduction, according to polling by More in Common. This marks a sharp decline from a net support of 35% earlier in the summer, with the policy now suffering from what has been described as the prime minister's 'reverse Midas touch'.
The survey found that just 31% of respondents supported the scheme after Starmer's announcement, compared to 53% in June, while opposition rose to 45%. Over 2.6 million people have signed a petition against the introduction of digital IDs. The collapse in support appears linked to public dissatisfaction with the government, with 58% of those who think Starmer is doing a bad job opposing the IDs, compared to 71% support among those who approve of his performance.
Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common, said: 'Digital ID is not unpopular in principle. Earlier this summer, we found a majority support the policy. Yet in perhaps the clearest sign of the government's low standing it now seems to be suffering from a reverse Midas touch: once the government announced the plans, support dropped.' He added that the government must make a clearer case for the policy to rebuild support.
The findings come as Starmer's personal approval ratings hit a record low, with an Ipsos poll showing 13% satisfaction and 79% dissatisfaction, a net rating of -66, the worst for any prime minister since 1977. Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Starmer and Tony Blair, told a Labour conference event that the plans would be 'dead in the water' within six months unless ministers make a convincing case. He urged Downing Street to enlist social media influencers to counter conspiracy theories.
Ministers have said the digital ID cards will be compulsory for anyone seeking employment, stored on smartphones, and used to prove the right to live and work in the UK. The government aims to roll them out before the next election, initially for right-to-work checks, with potential expansion to health and benefits data. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the policy as a 'no-brainer' for clamping down on illegal working.
