{"id":12197,"date":"2026-01-14T09:29:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T09:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=12197"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:29:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T09:29:27","slug":"tories-and-lib-dems-criticise-starmers-spinelessness-after-u-turn-on-digital-id-uk-politics-live-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=12197","title":{"rendered":"Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"liveblog-body\"><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><gu-island name=\"KeyEventsCarousel\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;keyEvents&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;69675d428f083d0a2f316bf0&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Rachel Reeves&lt;\/strong&gt;, the chancellor, has accused the media of exaggerating the extent of the digital ID U-turn.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;8ab18106-511e-4a6e-ac88-c66cd67142ab&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;In an interview on BBC Breakfast this morning, she said:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6dd9bb42-d1bf-4891-bd3f-6bce7564b17a&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;On the digital ID, for starters, I do think this story has been a bit overwritten.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We are saying that you will need mandatory digital ID to be able to work in the UK.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Now the difference is whether that has to be one piece of ID, a digital ID card, or whether it could be an e-visa or an e-passport, and we\u2019re pretty relaxed about what form that takes \u2026&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;I don\u2019t think most people mind whether it is one piece of digital ID or a form of digital ID that can be verified.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;5c2fe84d-23c9-4dc7-8d05-536ae7b9e48f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;When it was put to her that repeated U-turns undermined confidence in the government, she replied:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;935811b6-34cf-421f-bac6-980de42840e5&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The key thing is where you\u2019re trying to go. Our government, this government, our focus is on growing the economy and improving living standards for working people.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;cfb8ca45-dd74-41aa-89a0-3adb3829b499&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1768381762000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.09\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1768382002000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.13\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1768382002000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.13\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;09.13&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Reeves plays down significance of digital ID card U-turn, saying workers will still have to verify ID digitally&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Wed 14 Jan 2026 09.13 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Wed 14 Jan 2026 08.46 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;6967590a8f08ae2c6996ee01&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;On the Today programme &lt;strong&gt;David Blunkett&lt;\/strong&gt;, a Labour home secretary under Tony Blair and a strong supporter of ID cards, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the digitial ID U-turn. Blunkett said.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b1cb9c8a-5968-48de-a829-5696552f13f3&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;I\u2019m disappointed, but I\u2019m not surprised.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;I\u2019m not surprised because the original announcement was not followed by a narrative or supportive statements or any kind of strategic plan which involved other ministers and those who are committed to this actually making the case.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;And, as a consequence, those who are opposed to the scheme for all kinds of nefarious and very different reasons \u2013 some of them inexplicable \u2013 were able to mobilise public opinion and to get the online opposition to it up and running.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;So, very sadly, it\u2019s an indication of a failure to be able to enunciate why this policy mattered, to be able to follow through with a detail of how it would work, and then to reinforce that by a plan and communication of action.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;And, when you failed to do all those things, it\u2019s not surprising in the end, this thing runs into the sand.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;410b5870-9fe4-4811-bd1b-6457a393d900&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Blunkett is right to say that Keir Starmer announced plans for digital ID (&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/sep\/26\/keir-starmer-digital-id-cards-immigration-borders-reform-uk-politics-live?page=with%3Ablock-68d6850f8f084553ecf44bef#block-68d6850f8f084553ecf44bef\\&quot;&gt;cards were not part of it&lt;\/a&gt; \u2013 despite the scheme regularly being described in those terms) in a fairly haphazard manner. Digital ID was not in Labour\u2019s manifesto. Starmer announced the proposal &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/sep\/26\/keir-starmer-digital-id-cards-immigration-borders-reform-uk-politics-live?page=with%3Ablock-68d663148f081ea00e4faaaf&amp;filterKeyEvents=false#liveblog-navigation\\&quot;&gt;in a surprise speech last autumn&lt;\/a&gt;, just before Labour\u2019s conference. He presented it as a major change. But the following week, in his conference speech, he did not mention it, and he did not build support for it in the party.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d6b67cb3-533d-4938-8eff-1e68376b2a02&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;At least, when he announced the plan, it was popular. But then public support for it collapsed, leading to claims that Starmer had a \u201creverse Midas touch\u201d, as &lt;strong&gt;Eleni Courea&lt;\/strong&gt; reported at the time. In October she &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2025\/oct\/01\/keir-starmer-labour-collapse-public-support-digital-id-cards\\&quot;&gt;wrote:&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;23c870ea-ac35-4c54-865d-24840eebe906&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Net support for digital ID cards fell from 35% in the early summer to -14% at the weekend after Starmer\u2019s announcement, according to polling by More in Common.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The findings suggest that the proposal has &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2025\/sep\/27\/britons-on-keir-starmer-plan-digital-id-cards\\&quot;&gt;suffered considerably&lt;\/a&gt; from its association with an unpopular government. In June, 53% of voters surveyed said they were in favour of digital ID cards for all Britons, while 19% were opposed.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;67d2bef0-3957-4f9c-851f-c4922d66613d&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1768380682000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;08.51\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1768381598000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.06\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1768381598000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.06\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;09.06&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Blunkett says he is 'disappointed' by digital ID U-turn, and blames Starmer for lack of 'strategic plan' to defend policy&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Wed 14 Jan 2026 09.13 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Wed 14 Jan 2026 08.46 GMT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;69674d7d8f083d0a2f316b9f&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Good morning. &lt;strong&gt;Keir Starmer&lt;\/strong&gt; has performed another U-turn \u2013 on compulsory digital ID. Here is Peter Walker and Pippa Crerar\u2019s overnight story.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b2226c1c-0919-409a-9f31-7e03e49b6c5b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;UK government rolls back key part of digital ID plans&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ad7d3f36-1cbe-4170-8a4c-b7c97f97e431&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;thumbnail&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2026\/jan\/13\/government-rolls-back-digital-identity-card-plans&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;A few days ago &lt;strong&gt;Noah Keate&lt;\/strong&gt; from Politico listed &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/keir-starmer-7-times-mp-u-turn-uk-parliament\/\\&quot;&gt;seven major U-turns&lt;\/a&gt; the government has already performed. Today\u2019s news takes that tally to eight, although, if you were being harsh, you could probably find more, because government always involves adjusting to circumstances, and so plans always change. But these a big, proper U-turns, in the usual meaning of the word as applied to politics \u2013 significant reversals on signature policy.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d00744e8-db53-4678-821f-a3a4ba7abbff&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;U-turns normally allow the opposition to enjoy saying \u2018we told you so\u2019, and there has been a lot of that overnight. This is&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/x.com\/KemiBadenoch\/status\/2011154923510210953\\&quot;&gt; from&lt;\/a&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Kemi Badenoch&lt;\/strong&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ca5b3bc8-f775-45bc-ac8a-1942117ebb96&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;The Prime Minister is \u2018turning the corner\u2019...straight into another u-turn.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Good riddance. It was a terrible policy anyway.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ef6e0d00-d329-4fdf-9b31-7481e21da537&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;This is from her shadow Cabinet Office minister &lt;strong&gt;Mike Wood&lt;\/strong&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b8adb5d5-8023-493e-ab82-b5707ef64a79&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;While we welcome the scrapping of any mandatory identification, this is yet another humiliating U-turn from the government. Keir Starmer\u2019s spinelessness is becoming a pattern, not an exception.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;What was sold as a tough measure to tackle illegal working is now set to become yet another costly, ill-thought-out experiment abandoned at the first sign of pressure from Labour\u2019s backbenches.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;38dc59f3-4b44-49a2-803f-c25025e30e85&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;And this is from &lt;strong&gt;Lisa Smart&lt;\/strong&gt;, the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3a77e026-81ef-4e83-a098-037d3fcc6b21&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Number 10 must be bulk ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate to cope with all their U-turns.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;It was clear right from the start this was a proposal doomed to failure, that would have cost obscene amounts of taxpayers money to deliver absolutely nothing.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c793b64b-df93-4433-9666-f44dbfc82ba0&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The political debate about the merits or otherwise of this was captured last in a good exchange of tweets (Bluesky tweets) between my colleague &lt;strong&gt;Pippa Crerar&lt;\/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Sam Freedman&lt;\/strong&gt;, the Comment is Freed substacker and policy expert. At the start of a thread, Pippa&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/pippacrerar.bsky.social\/post\/3mcdfz4tir22o\\&quot;&gt; said:&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;5bcaaa7f-a60a-4781-8c7b-4c6df83cc429&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Remember Lynton Crosby\u2019s \u201cbarnacles off the boat\u201d strategy? At 2010 and 2015 elections the Tories successfully shed unpopular policies and perceptions that hindered their electoral appeal. Instead, they focused on core messages they believed would help win over floating voters. It worked.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ebf2f476-8be5-46c3-8296-cb5fe3f22342&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;This is the argument used by governments of all kind down the ages to justify U-turns \u2013 take the short-term hit, because in the longer term you are better off if you ditch an unpopular policy.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;caf469d8-029d-4274-896b-faab0e555ab1&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;But &lt;strong&gt;Freedman&lt;\/strong&gt;, replying to this post, &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/samfr.bsky.social\/post\/3mcdh36rw522q\\&quot;&gt;said&lt;\/a&gt;:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;aa6df230-727f-4d3f-a283-d74898021b4c&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Unfortunately to make this strategy work you need a boat.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;51e1471b-fc5d-4489-b57a-09d57a295f1c&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;By this he means there is no point Starmer ditching his unpopular policies if no-one knows what his core, popular ones are.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;811c9502-0c3f-49bc-ab11-ead7521b042f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Starmer would argue he has got a boat; he &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/13\/uk-politics-latest-news-labour-conservatives-keir-starmer?page=with%3Ablock-69665bab8f08ae2c6996e62a#block-69665bab8f08ae2c6996e62a\\&quot;&gt;explained it to cabinet yesterday&lt;\/a&gt;, reducing the cost of living. But Labour MPs fear that voters either have not got the message, or aren\u2019t impressed by it.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;558dddad-2ed4-45de-9e9c-f642bca1a88f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Here is the agenda for the day.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f863feae-0bef-4ba1-be94-a952e814bb9a&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Noon:&lt;\/em&gt; Keir Starmer faces &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/kemi-badenoch\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Kemi Badenoch&lt;\/a&gt; at PMQs.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;64fe186b-2aca-4d63-9cc2-2418570c5346&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;After 12.30pm:&lt;\/em&gt; Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, makes a statement to MPs about West Midlands police and their support for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being banned from the match against Aston Villa last year. She will present the results of an inquiry by the police inspectorate into how WMP justified the decision. Craig Guildford, the chief constable, has been accused of giving misleading information to MPs about the intelligence used to justify the decision, and, although Mahmood does not hhiave the power to sack Guildford, there is speculation she will says she no longer has confidence in him.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;48fbebc2-9e7d-4e6d-a7e7-1655d9df199c&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;2pm:&lt;\/em&gt; Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will confirm&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2026\/jan\/13\/northern-powerhouse-rail-project-pledge-funds\\&quot;&gt; plans to revive the Northern Powerhouse Rail project &lt;\/a&gt;at an event in Leeds.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;68f56706-6a33-48d3-be7c-e22e4382bf8e&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;318439c0-2881-4fce-a565-0d2d33560983&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2024\/nov\/13\/the-guardian-no-longer-post-on-x-twitter-elon-musk\\&quot;&gt;given up posting from its official accounts on X&lt;\/a&gt;, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d767fe9d-2e2a-4cb2-8ac3-270780a513cd&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;df980f4c-7cd5-4329-a965-009f457e3523&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1768380410000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;08.46\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1768381689000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;09.08\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1768380410000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;08.46\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;08.46&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Wed 14 Jan 2026 09.13 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Wed 14 Jan 2026 08.46 GMT&quot;}],&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;key-events-carousel-mobile&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;serverTime&quot;:1768382924630}\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/gu-island><gu-island name=\"FilterKeyEventsToggle\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;filter-toggle-mobile&quot;}\"><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-alru3r\"><label id=\"src-component-52747_description\" data-component=\"filter-key-events\" data-link-name=\"filter-key-events-on\" class=\"dcr-rrspei\"><button id=\"src-component-52747\" role=\"switch\" aria-checked=\"false\" aria-labelledby=\"src-component-52747_description\" class=\"dcr-dh5oqp\"\/>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/label><\/div>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"block-69675d428f083d0a2f316bf0\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Reeves plays down significance of digital ID card U-turn, saying workers will still have to verify ID digitally<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Rachel Reeves<\/strong>, the chancellor, has accused the media of exaggerating the extent of the digital ID U-turn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In an interview on BBC Breakfast this morning, she said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>On the digital ID, for starters, I do think this story has been a bit overwritten.<\/p>\n<p>We are saying that you will need mandatory digital ID to be able to work in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Now the difference is whether that has to be one piece of ID, a digital ID card, or whether it could be an e-visa or an e-passport, and we\u2019re pretty relaxed about what form that takes \u2026<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t think most people mind whether it is one piece of digital ID or a form of digital ID that can be verified.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">When it was put to her that repeated U-turns undermined confidence in the government, she replied:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The key thing is where you\u2019re trying to go. Our government, this government, our focus is on growing the economy and improving living standards for working people.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/14\/pmqs-live-digital-id-cards-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-69675d428f083d0a2f316bf0&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-69675d428f083d0a2f316bf0&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/14\/pmqs-live-digital-id-cards-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69675d428f083d0a2f316bf0#block-69675d428f083d0a2f316bf0\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6967590a8f08ae2c6996ee01\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Blunkett says he is &#8216;disappointed&#8217; by digital ID U-turn, and blames Starmer for lack of &#8216;strategic plan&#8217; to defend policy<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On the Today programme <strong>David Blunkett<\/strong>, a Labour home secretary under Tony Blair and a strong supporter of ID cards, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the digitial ID U-turn. Blunkett said.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>I\u2019m disappointed, but I\u2019m not surprised.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not surprised because the original announcement was not followed by a narrative or supportive statements or any kind of strategic plan which involved other ministers and those who are committed to this actually making the case.<\/p>\n<p>And, as a consequence, those who are opposed to the scheme for all kinds of nefarious and very different reasons \u2013 some of them inexplicable \u2013 were able to mobilise public opinion and to get the online opposition to it up and running.<\/p>\n<p>So, very sadly, it\u2019s an indication of a failure to be able to enunciate why this policy mattered, to be able to follow through with a detail of how it would work, and then to reinforce that by a plan and communication of action.<\/p>\n<p>And, when you failed to do all those things, it\u2019s not surprising in the end, this thing runs into the sand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Blunkett is right to say that Keir Starmer announced plans for digital ID (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/sep\/26\/keir-starmer-digital-id-cards-immigration-borders-reform-uk-politics-live?page=with%3Ablock-68d6850f8f084553ecf44bef#block-68d6850f8f084553ecf44bef\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">cards were not part of it<\/a> \u2013 despite the scheme regularly being described in those terms) in a fairly haphazard manner. Digital ID was not in Labour\u2019s manifesto. Starmer announced the proposal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/sep\/26\/keir-starmer-digital-id-cards-immigration-borders-reform-uk-politics-live?page=with%3Ablock-68d663148f081ea00e4faaaf&amp;filterKeyEvents=false#liveblog-navigation\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">in a surprise speech last autumn<\/a>, just before Labour\u2019s conference. He presented it as a major change. But the following week, in his conference speech, he did not mention it, and he did not build support for it in the party.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">At least, when he announced the plan, it was popular. But then public support for it collapsed, leading to claims that Starmer had a \u201creverse Midas touch\u201d, as <strong>Eleni Courea<\/strong> reported at the time. In October she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2025\/oct\/01\/keir-starmer-labour-collapse-public-support-digital-id-cards\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote:<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Net support for digital ID cards fell from 35% in the early summer to -14% at the weekend after Starmer\u2019s announcement, according to polling by More in Common.<\/p>\n<p>The findings suggest that the proposal has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2025\/sep\/27\/britons-on-keir-starmer-plan-digital-id-cards\">suffered considerably<\/a> from its association with an unpopular government. In June, 53% of voters surveyed said they were in favour of digital ID cards for all Britons, while 19% were opposed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/14\/pmqs-live-digital-id-cards-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6967590a8f08ae2c6996ee01&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6967590a8f08ae2c6996ee01&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/14\/pmqs-live-digital-id-cards-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6967590a8f08ae2c6996ee01#block-6967590a8f08ae2c6996ee01\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-69674d7d8f083d0a2f316b9f\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Good morning. <strong>Keir Starmer<\/strong> has performed another U-turn \u2013 on compulsory digital ID. Here is Peter Walker and Pippa Crerar\u2019s overnight story.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"34209f7e-c0f9-4c7d-a13c-4303c90e6961\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:1,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;UK government rolls back key part of digital ID plans&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;34209f7e-c0f9-4c7d-a13c-4303c90e6961&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2026\/jan\/13\/government-rolls-back-digital-identity-card-plans&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;isInStarRatingVariant&quot;:false}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A few days ago <strong>Noah Keate<\/strong> from Politico listed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/keir-starmer-7-times-mp-u-turn-uk-parliament\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">seven major U-turns<\/a> the government has already performed. Today\u2019s news takes that tally to eight, although, if you were being harsh, you could probably find more, because government always involves adjusting to circumstances, and so plans always change. But these a big, proper U-turns, in the usual meaning of the word as applied to politics \u2013 significant reversals on signature policy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">U-turns normally allow the opposition to enjoy saying \u2018we told you so\u2019, and there has been a lot of that overnight. This is<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KemiBadenoch\/status\/2011154923510210953\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> from<\/a> <strong>Kemi Badenoch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The Prime Minister is \u2018turning the corner\u2019&#8230;straight into another u-turn.<\/p>\n<p>Good riddance. It was a terrible policy anyway.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This is from her shadow Cabinet Office minister <strong>Mike Wood<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>While we welcome the scrapping of any mandatory identification, this is yet another humiliating U-turn from the government. Keir Starmer\u2019s spinelessness is becoming a pattern, not an exception.<\/p>\n<p>What was sold as a tough measure to tackle illegal working is now set to become yet another costly, ill-thought-out experiment abandoned at the first sign of pressure from Labour\u2019s backbenches.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And this is from <strong>Lisa Smart<\/strong>, the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Number 10 must be bulk ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate to cope with all their U-turns.<\/p>\n<p>It was clear right from the start this was a proposal doomed to failure, that would have cost obscene amounts of taxpayers money to deliver absolutely nothing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The political debate about the merits or otherwise of this was captured last in a good exchange of tweets (Bluesky tweets) between my colleague <strong>Pippa Crerar<\/strong> and <strong>Sam Freedman<\/strong>, the Comment is Freed substacker and policy expert. At the start of a thread, Pippa<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/pippacrerar.bsky.social\/post\/3mcdfz4tir22o\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> said:<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Remember Lynton Crosby\u2019s \u201cbarnacles off the boat\u201d strategy? At 2010 and 2015 elections the Tories successfully shed unpopular policies and perceptions that hindered their electoral appeal. Instead, they focused on core messages they believed would help win over floating voters. It worked.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This is the argument used by governments of all kind down the ages to justify U-turns \u2013 take the short-term hit, because in the longer term you are better off if you ditch an unpopular policy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But <strong>Freedman<\/strong>, replying to this post, <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/samfr.bsky.social\/post\/3mcdh36rw522q\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Unfortunately to make this strategy work you need a boat.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">By this he means there is no point Starmer ditching his unpopular policies if no-one knows what his core, popular ones are.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Starmer would argue he has got a boat; he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/13\/uk-politics-latest-news-labour-conservatives-keir-starmer?page=with%3Ablock-69665bab8f08ae2c6996e62a#block-69665bab8f08ae2c6996e62a\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">explained it to cabinet yesterday<\/a>, reducing the cost of living. But Labour MPs fear that voters either have not got the message, or aren\u2019t impressed by it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>Noon:<\/em> Keir Starmer faces <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/kemi-badenoch\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Kemi Badenoch<\/a> at PMQs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>After 12.30pm:<\/em> Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, makes a statement to MPs about West Midlands police and their support for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being banned from the match against Aston Villa last year. She will present the results of an inquiry by the police inspectorate into how WMP justified the decision. Craig Guildford, the chief constable, has been accused of giving misleading information to MPs about the intelligence used to justify the decision, and, although Mahmood does not hhiave the power to sack Guildford, there is speculation she will says she no longer has confidence in him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>2pm:<\/em> Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will confirm<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2026\/jan\/13\/northern-powerhouse-rail-project-pledge-funds\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> plans to revive the Northern Powerhouse Rail project <\/a>at an event in Leeds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2024\/nov\/13\/the-guardian-no-longer-post-on-x-twitter-elon-musk\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">given up posting from its official accounts on X<\/a>, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/14\/pmqs-live-digital-id-cards-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-69674d7d8f083d0a2f316b9f&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-69674d7d8f083d0a2f316b9f&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Tories and Lib Dems criticise Starmer\u2019s \u2018spinelessness\u2019 after U-turn on digital ID \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2026\/jan\/14\/pmqs-live-digital-id-cards-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-labour-conservatives-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69674d7d8f083d0a2f316b9f#block-69674d7d8f083d0a2f316b9f\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-01-14T09:08:09.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Wednesday, 14 January 2026 at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time\">09.08 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Tories #Lib #Dems #criticise #Starmers #spinelessness #Uturn #digital #politics #live #Politics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events onl&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12197"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}