Support for digital IDs COLLAPSES as Keir Starmer blamed for 'reverse Midas touch'

More than 2.6 million people have signed a petition urging Sir Keir not to push ahead with the plans.

"Digital ID is not unpopular in principle," Luke Tryl, executive director for More in Common, told The Guardian.

Mr Tryl added: "Earlier this summer, we found a majority supported 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."

Upon setting out plans for the digital ID scheme last week, the Prime Minister said: "I am announcing this Government will make a new free-of-charge digital ID, mandatory for the right to work by the end of this Parliament.

"Let me spell that out: you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have a digital ID.

"It's as simple as that. Because decent, pragmatic, fair-minded people, they want us to tackle the issues that they see around them."

Keir Starmer is staring down a backlash from his own cabinet over plans for compulsory digital IDs as fears grow that voters could be driven to the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats.

Cabinet ministers blasted the policy, with one telling The Times the plan was a "fantasy".

Both Zack Polanski and Sir Ed Davey's parties have come out against the controversial plans, which were announced last week.

One minister said: "We need the voters on the soft left and this will just alienate them.

"It's not clear to me that this will do anything to stop people crossing the channel anyway, given that migrants are already working illegally in the black market."

Another minister told The Times the plan was presented to the Cabinet as a "fait accompli" following the various reshuffles.

They added: "It's not going to happen. It's too expensive and complicated.

"What will end up happening is that it will recreate what already exists, which is e-visas for migrants."

Ministers have said the ID will only be required as proof of the right to work, but there is scope for its use to be widened in future to access public services. It is expected to be subject to consultation and may require legislation.

Meanwhile, of 2024 Reform voters, 55 per cent supported the scheme in June compared with 23 per cent who opposed, which has now flipped to 62 per cent opposed and 24 per cent in support.

Similarly, of 2024 Conservative voters, 65 per cent supported the scheme in June compared with 13 per cent who opposed, whereas now 44 per cent oppose it compared with 34 per cent who support it.

The June sample was taken between June 27 and 30, surveying 2,030 people.

The September sample was taken between September 26 and 29, surveying 2,012 people. Participants were from England, Scotland and Wales.

These data come as Sir Keir’s approval ratings fall to a record low, with a recent survey suggesting he is now the most unpopular prime minister on record.

The poll by Ipsos on Saturday found that 13 per cent of voters were satisfied with Sir Keir, with 79 per cent dissatisfied, a net rating of -66.

This is the lowest satisfaction rating recorded by the pollster for any prime minister going back to 1977, worse than previous lows recorded by Rishi Sunak months before the 2024 general election and John Major in August 1994.