The Labour Government has scrapped its controversial plans for so called Brit Cards, leaving Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly exposed after he praised the policy as a “very good thing” only weeks earlier.
The reversal marks the UK Labour Government’s thirteenth policy U turn since taking office and comes after sustained criticism from across Scotland, with the SNP leading opposition to what was widely seen as an unnecessary and intrusive national identity scheme.
Mr Sarwar had strongly backed the proposal following its announcement in October, arguing that a digital identity system could streamline checks already required by employers.
Speaking to GB News at the time, he said:
“That digital platform can be used to verify your identification when you go for a job and for an employer to verify your identification, which they have to do anyway in paper form, and if they can do that on a digital form, I think that’s a very good thing.”
His support reportedly went further, with claims that he had privately lobbied for any Brit Card design to include a Scottish saltire, a move critics say underlined how deeply he had bought into the policy.
The SNP, however, moved quickly to challenge the proposals as soon as they emerged, with SNP MP Pete Wishart securing the first Westminster debate on Brit Cards last autumn.
The First Minister, John Swinney, also made clear the Scottish Government would resist the scheme, warning it posed a threat to civil liberties and Scotland’s national identity.
Speaking to the Daily Record at the time, Mr Swinney said the proposals would be “an attack on our liberty and privacy, and given the way it has been framed by the UK Government as a ‘Brit Card’, it is an attack on our national identity as well.”
With the policy now abandoned, SNP figures say Mr Sarwar has been left politically stranded, having defended a scheme now quietly dropped by his own party leadership.
The SNP’s Deputy Leader at Westminster, who previously served as Home Affairs spokesperson during the successful opposition to Tony Blair’s failed ID card scheme, said the collapse of the policy told voters everything they needed to know about Labour’s direction.
“‘Brit Cards’ should never have seen the light of day, but this is yet another flagship Labour Party policy which has been ditched, we are on U-turn number 13 and the public can see this Labour Government for what it is, complete and utter chaos.
“Anas Sarwar backed Keir Starmer to the hilt on a disastrous policy only for it be scrapped and the Scottish Labour leader left hung out to dry, be it the axing the Winter Fuel Payment, betraying the WASPI women, Labour’s tax on Scotland’s energy or ‘Brit Cards’, Anas Sarwar is all too happy defend the indefensible to keep his London Labour boss happy.”
The SNP also criticised the financial cost of the abandoned scheme, arguing that billions could have been better spent supporting households struggling through the cost of living crisis.
“The Labour Party’s ‘Brit Card’ was a desperate attempt to distract from their appalling record in government, but at a time when the cost of living crisis is hammering hard pressed households, it was quite frankly appalling to waste billions on that hair brained scheme, who knows what the total cost of this mistake was.”
As Labour attempts to move on from the episode, SNP figures say the affair reinforces wider questions about accountability, leadership and Scotland’s place within the UK political system.
“Keir Starmer and his Labour Government are in a complete mess, but this whole sorry affair has told Scots everything they need to know about Westminster and why we need a fresh start with independence.”
