Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from his own backbenchers to perform further dramatic U-turns on a series of contentious policies, following his decision to abandon compulsory Digital ID checks.
Backbench Rebellion Gains Momentum
Labour MPs have explicitly told the Prime Minister that his retreat on mandatory Digital ID for right-to-work checks is just the beginning. They are now demanding he scrap proposals to curtail jury trials, cancel local elections, and restrict the right to protest.
The internal anger stems from frustration that MPs are being forced to defend unpopular government policies, only for ministers to later ditch them. This pattern, seen with the family farms tax and business rates hikes for pubs, has left many feeling exposed.
Even some within the Cabinet are reportedly of the view that it is better to 'scrape the barnacles off the boat' rather than persist with plans the public dislikes, although Health Secretary Wes Streeting argued the government should aim to 'get it right first time'.
Commons Clash Over 'Creeping State Control'
During an urgent question in the Commons on Thursday, called by the Conservatives, several Labour MPs welcomed the softening of the Digital ID policy. However, many used the opportunity to voice broader concerns.
MP Emma Lewell-Buck did not hold back, branding the situation a 'mess'. She warned: 'Increasing surveillance, DWP powers to snoop on bank accounts, the removal of trials by jury, postponing elections and clamping down on peaceful protest—the public are starting to become very angry about these encroachments on our fundamental freedoms and creeping state control. It is all inherently un-British.'
She urged Digital ID minister, Josh Simons, to convey to those behind the 'farce' that they were doing the government no favours.
Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman argued that the government's popular policies, like raising the minimum wage, were rooted in Labour values, whereas eroding civil liberties was not. He asked for his criticisms to be fed back to the Cabinet leadership.
Similarly, Chris Hinchliff said it was always clear the public would reject mandatory Digital ID and pressed the minister to apply the lessons learned to other plans, specifically those affecting jury trials and protest rights.
Internal Backlash Escalates Online and From Sacked Minister
The discontent has spilled onto social media. Karl Turner MP, who has led internal opposition to limiting jury trials, intensified his attacks on the Cabinet and Downing Street advisers. On Twitter, he accused Sir Keir and his 'henchmen' of sending 'good people' in the Parliamentary Labour Party out to 'defend the indefensible', only to look foolish when policy is reversed.
Left-wing MP Nadia Whittome advised colleagues: 'Don't be marched up the hill in the first place. It's our job as backbench MPs to raise the alarm on bad policy.'
Adding to the pressure, a minister sacked last year called on Sir Keir to honour the promise he made outside Downing Street to 'tread more lightly' on people's lives.
In a further significant critique, a think-tank founded by former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair warned that Britain's 'model of government is no longer capable of delivering'. New Labour figures Lord Blunkett and Lord Reid co-authored a new paper, seen as a thinly-veiled criticism of Sir Keir's administration. They stated that progressive politics is strongest when it has a coherent theory of change.
