Pub renamed in protest over digital ID

MOVE INTENDED TO HIGHLIGHT FEARS OVER CIVIL LIBERTIES AND DATA SECURITY

- CONAILL CORNER

A New Brighton pub has been renamed in protest to government plans to introduce mandatory digital ID.

The James Atherton, in Victoria Road, was given its new name, "The George Orwell," by owner Daniel Davies last week. The move is intended to highlight concerns about civil liberties and data security, and comes as campaigners staged protests in Liverpool ahead of the Labour Party Conference.

Daniel, who previously went viral in 2020 when he renamed the pub "The Three B***ends" in response to Covid restrictions, told the ECHO: "With the digital ID debate going on, we thought we'd do something.

"This is about getting people to think about a subject they perhaps don't dedicate enough time to. And also, introducing people to a bit of literature and one of the greats, Orwell." New plans for a digital ID held people's on phones is set to become mandatory for all UK citizens. Digital ID will become compulsory as a means of proving the right to work under the plans, but the government says people will not be required to carry or asked to produce it.