‘Your papers, please’
The tradition of liberalism in the British Isles is something that we have historically valued immensely. The conservation of our rights is seen throughout the democratic process, from parliamentary sovereignty to the irreverence towards our politicians that seems antithetical to the general temperament of the British people. So, the question must be asked: how could the idea of identity cards be so popular? It is unsurprising that the Labour government would propose such a policy; however, we should be deeply concerned that, according to YouGov, 42 per cent of Britons are in support of some form of BritCard.
Firstly, an astonishing amount of naivety is needed to genuinely believe this would eradicate the issues that Labour seek to solve by introducing ID cards. After all, I’d remind everyone that currently we have national insurance numbers that are supposed to prevent illegal work. For this to be an effective solution much more overreach is needed; however, trust is not something we earn from the state like children from parents (nor is privacy or freedom from surveillance). An infringement on our liberty will not limit the feeling of economic anxiety that currently pervades Britain. With more people in support of this than of Labour in the 2024 general election, this is undoubtedly exposing a troubling inclination of the population to depend on the state.
In times of uncertainty people often look to the government for comfort. As people’s mentalities move, reflected in the Overton window, they become accepting of invasive state control and growing surveillance; yes, this feels Orwellian. A shift to mandatory digital IDs fundamentally changes the relationship between the state and the people; without even the option to abstain from ID cards, the implementation of the policy would strip citizens of their agency. Historically, the British people have fought for their freedoms from the Magna Carta through to the Great Reform Act, establishing liberty as a cornerstone of the nation. Though, today it seems that if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear.
Unfortunately, freedom was never supposed to be convenient; its value is derived from people’s individual ability to choose what is best for them, not what is easiest for everyone. In order to maintain liberalism in British politics for posterity, we must remain vehemently opposed to government overreach and combat a political climate that is accepting of excessive surveillance; whilst also upholding the rule of law. Digital ID cards are not the solution to the widespread feeling of insecurity; nor is surrendering to the state.
Anna Casey