Daily Politics from the New Statesman Why Keir Starmer U-turned on digital ID
Jan 14, 2026
Joining the discussion is Alva Ray, the Political Editor known for her insightful analysis of Westminster politics. She delves into Keir Starmer's recent U-turn on mandatory digital IDs, exploring factors like public backlash and internal Labour frustration. Alva highlights the communication blunders and the party's struggle with perception, noting how conspiracy fears have hurt policy reception. The team also tackles the risk of Starmer's frequent reversals before the May elections, questioning whether they indicate flexibility or a lack of coherent strategy.
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Popularity Can Flip Overnight
- Public polling turned mandatory digital ID from +35% support to -14% almost overnight once linked to Labour.
- That rapid shift exposed how policies can become toxic when associated with a particular party or leader.
Barnacles Off The Boat Strategy
- Downing Street adopted a 'scrape the barnacles off the boat' approach to prioritise fewer, simpler messages.
- That pivot reflects a strategic choice to focus political capital on cost-of-living issues instead of complex policies.
Silence Fueled The Backlash
- Labour never really sold the mandatory element and almost immediately stopped talking about it after the initial speech.
- That absence of argument let critics define the policy as state overreach and forced a shift to optional ID.