What our MP thinks about digital ID by Jeremy Hunt

Dear Neil,

Thank you for your email. Like you, I long opposed the introduction of ID cards and strongly resisted Tony Blair’s earlier proposals. However, I am now open-minded about exploring digital identification if it can genuinely help tackle illegal migration and prevent people working in the black market, one of the main reasons the UK continues to face such high levels of illegal entry. Switzerland has just voted to introduce one for similar reasons.

While Italy does not have digital ID cards, I also think that digital IDs alone are not enough. Any such measure would need to form part of a much wider strategy to tackle people smuggling and illegal working for instance the Rwanda scheme which Labour foolishly cancelled. I will absolutely continue to monitor this closely and look carefully at the detail once proposals are published before making a final decision on how to vote.

On a different note, if you do not already receive it, would it be helpful for you to receive my weekly update of events in Westminster and locally? You can sign up here and can unsubscribe at any time.

Best wishes,

Jeremy