Tom Gordon MP Warns Government Has Lost Public Trust Over Digital ID Plans

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has strongly criticised the Government’s plans for a national Digital ID system, warning that public trust has collapsed amid growing concerns about privacy, security, and the erosion of civil liberties.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday during a debate on Digital ID proposals, Tom highlighted new polling data showing a dramatic shift in public opinion. He noted that support for Digital ID was over +30% earlier this summer, but plunged to -14% soon after the Government announced it would adopt the policy.

A vocal opponent of Digital IDs, Tom has previously described the proposal as a “dangerous attack on our civil liberties.” He argued that the scheme would force people to hand over sensitive personal information just to access everyday services, creating a potential gateway to mass surveillance while diverting billions of pounds away from vital public services.

He noted that the sharp drop in public support may reflect these concerns, including doubts about the Government’s ability to safeguard personal data. Recent high-profile security breaches and failures in major IT systems are likely to have contributed to public doubts
about whether this Government can be trusted with such sensitive information.

Commenting, Tom said:

‘Support for Digital ID collapsing from over +30% to –14% tells us everything we need to know: the British public simply do not trust this Government to protect their personal data.

‘After years of security failures, high-profile leaks and botched IT projects, it’s hardly surprising that people are alarmed at the idea of the Government holding a database of everyone’s private information.

‘Instead of pouring billions into a surveillance system, this government should be fixing the NHS, tackling the cost-of-living crisis, and investing in services people desperately rely on.’