Sir Keir Starmer is planning contemporary ‘give up’ to Brussels over use of digital id paperwork, it’s feared, as Labour-commissioned survey quietly revealed urges ministers to contemplate shackling UK to European Union rulebook

Sir Keir Starmer is planning a fresh ‘surrender’ to Brussels over the use of digital identity documents, it is feared.

A survey commissioned by Labour and quietly published last week backed ‘cross-border use of digital identities and credentials’, with industry leaders urging ministers to ‘prioritise relationships with Europe’.

But Brexiteer MPs said Eurocrats would demand full alignment with the bloc’s rules as the price for closer ties in a blow for UK sovereignty.

And campaigners warned of privacy concerns as it could give Brussels access to Britons’ personal data.

Sir Keir Starmer has already committed to following Brussels’ rules on animal and plant health, electricity and carbon pricing as part of his post-Brexit ‘reset’ in relations with the bloc.

While the PM has U-turned on plans for mandatory ID cards proving the right to work in the UK, the survey proposed creating ‘identity wallets’ which Britons can use abroad and ministers have vowed to take the proposals forward.

The EU launched its own ‘digital wallet’ this year which can store driving licences and other documents on phones and devices despite concerns it would create a centralised ‘honeypot’ for hackers and that Eurocrats could use it to spy on citizens.

And there are fears Labour will offer to sign up to Brussels rules to take part in it or other similar schemes as part of Sir Keir’s ongoing ‘reset’.

It comes after the Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, this week said alignment with Brussels is ‘where the magic happens’ as he schmoozed with Eurocrats during a visit to the EU’s de facto capital.

Tory chair of the Brexiteer European Research Group of MPs, Mark Francois, said: ‘This is yet another example of Labour looking at how it can salami slice our sovereignty and then hand it back to Brussels, piece by piece – all clearly against the spirit of the EU Referendum, when we voted to Leave.

‘If Labour thinks that surrendering our freedoms back to the EU will somehow save them from a drubbing in the May elections they are delusional.’

Reform UK MP Andrew Rosindell added: ‘Labour’s “reset” with Brussels looks more like a quiet surrender.

‘The British people voted to take back control – certainly not to be dragged into EU digital ID schemes by the back door.

‘Aligning with Brussels on digital identity wallets raises serious concerns about privacy, security and also our sovereignty. ‘Our data laws must be made in Westminster, accountable to the British people – not dictated by Eurocrats.

‘This government seems hellbent on dragging us back into the European Union by stealth.’

Josie Appleton, director of the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life, said: ‘This consultation appears to be a thinly disguised justification for aligning the UK digital ID with the EU Digital Identity Wallet.

‘The language in the consultation document – about ‘harmonising’ and ‘aligning’ standards – especially the EU, is identical to EU reports on the subject.

‘This should ring alarm bells. EU projects start out consensually, with the ‘user’ in control, and end up with elites collaborating to control their citizens and tell them how to behave.

‘It’s telling that the inspiration for the EU Digital Identity Wallet came from [Covid-19] vaccine passports, which were used to block unvaccinated people from travelling or going to cafes across Europe, and even barred them from many jobs.’

Frank Furedi head of the think tank MCC Brussels said: ‘We in Brussels have seen this movie before: ‘alignment’ starts as technical convenience and ends as political submission. Britain did not leave the EU to become a passive rule-taker in digital identity. Interoperability is sensible; regulatory absorption is not.’

The survey, conducted by the Office for Digital Identities (OfDIA) – part of the science and technology department – was the ‘next step in an open conversation’ about ‘how the government could enable the cross-border use of digital identities and credentials’, it said.

It asked 39 firms providing e-services, such as digital identity wallets, right to work checks and background screening, how ministers should proceed.

Most said ‘regulatory diversity between countries’ was a major barrier to using digital IDs abroad and that there needed to be ‘alignment of legal and regulatory frameworks’ with other nations, raising the prospect of signing up to Brussels rules.

In its conclusion, the department said the survey provided ‘valuable input’.

The EU’s digital wallet allows users to store personal information, such as passport and diving licences details, bank details, exam results, legal name, date and place of birth and even photographs.

It is designed to make travel and accessing services like health easier.

While it is not mandatory, critics have warned that amassing such vast quantities of data and storing it centrally will lead to a loss of privacy and allow Eurocrats to track individuals’ behaviour.

They also warn hackers could exploit this and fear the scheme could be made mandatory for accessing certain services in future.

Last month, Sir Keir dropped plans to make digital ID cards mandatory. Instead, a consultation on a voluntary scheme will be launched this year.

It will also take forward plans for Britons to use more forms of digital ID abroad.

A Government spokesman said: ‘This report is not about the UK’s national digital ID scheme – it is about existing private sector digital verification schemes and whether there are benefits to them working abroad.

‘This survey is about exploring what would be needed to make that happen with countries around the world.’