John Swinney accused of hypocrisy over assault on Labour’s ID plans – given Scottish Government has comparable scheme
John Swinney was last night accused of hypocrisy after attacking Labour’s plans for digital ID cards – despite the fact his government is already developing a similar identification system.
On Friday the First Minister said he opposed the mandatory ID scheme being introduced across the UK by Sir Keir Starmer.
In particular, the Nationalist leader hit out at unconfirmed suggestions the system might be called ‘BritCard’.
But critics pointed out that the Scottish Government is currently working on a scheme called Scot- Account – formerly known as Digital Identity Scotland – which has many of the same features.
ScotAccount – which creates an electronic profile allowing users to prove who they are – is being trialled on a voluntary basis for individuals accessing a limited number of public services.
However, ministers have pledged to massively expand its use, sparking fears that, as the system is embedded into more areas of public life, it will effectively become mandatory.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: ‘Even by John Swinney’s usual standards of political amnesia and brazen hypocrisy, his digital ID posturing is off the charts.
‘For him to now attack Sir Keir Starmer is arrant hypocrisy, not a principled stand.’
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said Mr Swinney’s ‘digital ID posturing is off the charts’
Critics pointed out that the Scottish Government is currently working on a scheme called Scot- Account – formerly known as Digital Identity Scotland – which has many of the same features
Under Labour’s plan, digital ID would become the authoritative proof of identity and residency status in the UK.
It would include a person’s name, date of birth, and a photo, and be compulsory for work.
In a post on X, Mr Swinney said: ‘I am opposed to mandatory digital ID – people should be able to go about their daily lives without such infringements. That aside, by calling it BritCard, the Prime Minister seems to be attempting to force every Scot to declare ourselves British. I am a Scot.’
However, as revealed in the Scottish Mail on Sunday in April, the SNP is rolling out its own Scottish form of digital ID.
ScotAccount collects information about individuals, including photos and personal details.
Its aim is to create a single centralised form of ID to tackle fraud and make it easier for people to prove who they are when accessing services – potentially including travel, health and benefits.
It has already been piloted for some services – including criminal record checks, witness appearances in court, licences to sell tobacco and vapes, funeral registrations and debt management.
Earlier this year the government handed a private firm more than £1 million to develop a ‘live service’ that is set to be rolled out across a much wider range of public services.
Details of exactly how the British ID card will look have not been confirmed
Users create an account using an email address and password, with security codes sent through text messages or a phone landline.
They submit a live picture of themselves as well as scans of their passport, driving licence or biometric residence permit. But campaigners have warned that users could be vulnerable to hacking and identity theft – and that the system could quickly become mandatory ‘by default’.
Civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch said: ‘Digital identity systems are a honeypot for hackers. Meanwhile we urgently need a legal right to non-digital ID, otherwise such schemes could become a mandatory ID system in all but name.’
The Scottish Government confirmed ScotAccount is being rolled out across a wide spectrum of public services – but insisted it was not mandatory.
A spokesman said: ‘ScotAccount does not provide a centralised searchable database of people’s personal information.
‘The Scottish Government is opposed to the introduction of any card that is compulsory to have or that anyone can demand to see, including that of a digital ID.’
