Digital ID: yes or no?

[Evil_Breakfast]

Well, if the 'how' is by cosying up to dodgy big tech and paying big $s, add that to the long-standing UK resistance to the notion of needing ID cards, and I suspect it'll be dead in the water by the time it gets anywhere near being discussed in detail in parliament. I'll be looking forward to reading Private Eye's take on it.

I seem to remember a couple of the phone-based covid apps appeared quickly and worked pretty well (I was surprised and pleased when one worked in a random bakery in SE France to show my vaccine status), and had been done relatively cheaply in-house. Or am I misremembering?

I agree. a mooted "consultation" period, effectively, kicks it into the long grass; whilst appearing -on the surface- to address/tackle the rather nebulous issue of "illegal" immigration.

 

[briantrumpet]

The 'noes' have picked up pace, now 13 versus the general mixed 'yesses' at 14. Four 'mehs'.

 

[pubrunner]

so how come we can afford an ID card system that will solve nothing and can't afford to address child poverty. Have Labour got their priorities right?

nb ID cards have not addressed illegal working in France where they have a reported 300,000 "sans-papiers" yet illegal working seems Starmer's justification for everybody having a "Brit Card".

Exactly this ^^^.

The idea that having an app on your smart phone, harvesting all your data and sending it to the government is going to stop small boats is beyond credulity.

 

[briantrumpet]

Exactly this ^^^.

The idea that having an app on your smart phone, harvesting all your data and sending it to the government is going to stop small boats is beyond credulity.

It's a big political misstep (quelle surprise). In reacting to the manufactured 'crisis', they didn't prepare their sales pitch well in advance or focused it on the things that could make it politically more acceptable to sceptics. As they've framed it, it would have been better called the Reform ID Card, but which will neither win over the Farageists or the left-leaning sceptics. Yet again, they've missed all the targets they should have been hitting.

 

[pubrunner]

. . . they didn't prepare their sales pitch well in advance or focused it on the things that could make it politically more acceptable to sceptics.

Indeed !

If he had a decent Comms team, he should have said it was to reduce welfare fraud.

 

[briantrumpet]

Indeed !

If he had a decent Comms team, he should have said it was to reduce welfare fraud.

I suspect that the recent departure of one of his long-standing and trusted comms people will be out of frustration at the influence of Blue Labour (aka Glasman and McSweeney) in dictating not only policy but how it's framed for the press. It's almost like they are working to validate everything that Reform bangs on about, rather than create an alternative positive narrative for the people who actually voted Labour in.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Where will I go to get my car cleaned once they introduce the DIDs?

 

[briantrumpet]

Where will I go to get my car cleaned once they introduce the DIDs?

Best wait for bob-a-job week.

While you wait you could order a pizza delivery to pass the time, though you might be waiting longer than for BAJW to come round.

 

[pubrunner]

I suspect that the recent departure of one of his long-standing and trusted comms people will be out of frustration at the influence of Blue Labour (aka Glasman and McSweeney) in dictating not only policy but how it's framed for the press.

Good point about McSweeney.

The DID issue has (almost) stopped everyone talking about Morgan McSweeney and the dodgy donation. (I'm surprised McSweeney is still in a job).

I genuinely don't understand why Starmer would keep such a liability on the books – unless, as the media reports suggest, he is just completely dependent on him to function.

If you're in a role like that, you'd be mad not to get yourself a security blanket.

I'd be making sure, I knew where the bodies were buried, and that my boss knew that I knew.

This is politics after all, no one gets to the top by playing a straight hand.

 

[briantrumpet]

Good point about McSweeney.

The DID issue has (almost) stopped everyone talking about Morgan McSweeney and the dodgy donation. (I'm surprised McSweeney is still in a job).

I genuinely don't understand why Starmer would keep such a liability on the books – unless, as the media reports suggest, he is just completely dependent on him to function.

If you're in a role like that, you'd be mad not to get yourself a security blanket.

I'd be making sure, I knew where the bodies were buried, and that my boss knew that I knew.

This is politics after all, no one gets to the top by playing a straight hand.

Maybe Starmer is wondering why, one by one, all his old aides are leaving. I suspect he's blind to what's happening, while McSweeney convinces him he's better off without people who don't believe McS's hokum.

 

[CXRAndy]

Where will I go to get my car cleaned once they introduce the DIDs?

Do it yourself

 

[Psamathe]

It's a big political misstep (quelle surprise). In reacting to the manufactured 'crisis', they didn't prepare their sales pitch well in advance or focused it on the things that could make it politically more acceptable to sceptics. As they've framed it, it would have been better called the Reform ID Card, but which will neither win over the Farageists or the left-leaning sceptics. Yet again, they've missed all the targets they should have been hitting.

It's also suffering the ever changing purpose (like HS2 did). Initially to "Stop The Boats", then added compulsory to rent somewhere to live. But now some Ministers are talking about how much easier it will make your life like opening bank accounts, getting NHS healthcare, etc.. But opening bank accounts wasn't the justification or use but is already creeping in.

As you say, Starmer got it wrong. No Reform voters/anti-migration sector will switch back as Labour's plans are weaker than Faragẽ's and most see it won't work anyway.

And No 10 Petition already at over 2m signatures making it easily the 4th most signatures ever. Of course Starmer will say "we heard you" and then completely ignore it which will aggravate people even more ("they just aren't listening to us"). But it will likely encourage those in our legislature opposed or even maybe those wavering.

 

[briantrumpet]

It's also suffering the ever changing purpose (like HS2 did). Initially to "Stop The Boats", then added compulsory to rent somewhere to live. But now some Ministers are talking about how much easier it will make your life like opening bank accounts, getting NHS healthcare, etc.. But opening bank accounts wasn't the justification or use but is already creeping in.

As you say, Starmer got it wrong. No Reform voters/anti-migration sector will switch back as Labour's plans are weaker than Faragẽ's and most see it won't work anyway.

And No 10 Petition already at over 2m signatures making it easily the 4th most signatures ever. Of course Starmer will say "we heard you" and then completely ignore it which will aggravate people even more ("they just aren't listening to us"). But it will likely encourage those in our legislature opposed or even maybe those wavering.

It all gives lie to the McSweeney-as-political-genius notion. Totally mismanaged from beginning to end, in substance and delivery.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Do it yourself

Never let it be said you have a sense of humour.

I hand wash my car twice a year…even if it doesn’t need it.

 

[pubrunner]

Here's an issue where I have an initial reaction - sounds like a good idea, and am open to being persuaded.

The subpostmasters might not agree though. Nor people affected by:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_government_data_losses