We'll block this ludicrous idea for the people of Scotland. It is an attack on our liberty and privacy

First Minister says he will not consent to adoption of any ID law

- BY JOHN FERGUSON

JOHN Swinney has vowed to use Holyrood powers to block the introduction of controversial digital IDs in Scotland.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail, the First Minister accused Keir Starmer of allowing former PM Tony Blair a longtime supporter of the scheme - to dictate UK Government policy.

He called digital IDs, previously dubbed "BritCards", an attack on "liberty, privacy and national identity", and insisted it was a "ludicrous" priority to spend billions of pounds on at a time when people are struggling with the cost of living.

The proposed UK-wide scheme is set to be introduced by 2029 for all UK citizens and legal residents, with participation mandatory in order to work.

However there has been furious opposition, with a parliamentary petition attracting nearly three million signatures.

As he prepares to address his party's conference in Aberdeen tomorrow, Swinney said that a Labour government believes it should introduce digital IDs when people are struggling with the cost of living "is just a ludicrous idea".

He added: "It is a bad idea in principle, and to spend huge amounts on it at this time is completely wrong and there is no way my government is going to go along with it.

"We believe it is an idea that requires Scotland's consent, and we will not give that consent in the Scottish Parliament.

"There are things that we can do to block the idea and one of those things is to refuse to give legislative consent."

Swinney gave two reasons - firstly calling digital IDs "an attack on our liberty and privacy, and given the way it has been framed by the UK Government as a BritCard, it is an attack on our national identity as well".