Scottish Labour leader doesn't want ID to be used by police

ANAS Sarwar would have “deep concerns” if Prime Minister Keir Starmer's controversial digital ID scheme was used for police stop and search.

- BY DAN VEVERS Chief Reporter

Speaking to the Sunday Mail from Labour conference in Liverpool, the Scottish Labour leader said the plans were “perfectly reasonable” if solely about streamlining right-to-work checks.

However he said he would be “very worried” if it became a tool for cops carrying out stop-and-searches - long associated with racial profiling.

The Prime Minister vowed to bring in mandatory digital ID for all citizens - branded a “BritCard” - claiming it could tackle illegal immigration.

But the policy has faced a storm of protest from civil liberties groups and rival parties - and is opposed by SNP First Minister John Swinney.

Speaking ahead of his conference speech today, Sarwar told the Sunday Mail it was “important to understand what is being proposed”.

He said: “In the digital age, when we're going to see our driving licence card moved to an online digital platform, and moving to the same approach with National Insurance cards, it’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do. But I'd have deep concerns if we were talking about some kind of ID card that could be used for stop-and-search purposes.