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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Swinney says ID scheme is attempt to 'force Scots to be British' | Swinney says ID scheme is attempt to 'force Scots to be British' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| John Swinney said that he opposed the mandatory aspects of the scheme | John Swinney said that he opposed the mandatory aspects of the scheme |
| First Minister John Swinney has said he is opposed to a mandatory UK digital ID scheme as an infringement on daily lives. | First Minister John Swinney has said he is opposed to a mandatory UK digital ID scheme as an infringement on daily lives. |
| In a social media post, he said Sir Keir Starmer was "attempting to force every Scot to declare ourselves British". | In a social media post, he said Sir Keir Starmer was "attempting to force every Scot to declare ourselves British". |
| The Prime Minister has announced plans for the scheme as a means of tackling illegal working and making borders more secure. | The Prime Minister has announced plans for the scheme as a means of tackling illegal working and making borders more secure. |
| Swinney also hit out at descriptions of the new ID as a "Brit Card" | Swinney also hit out at descriptions of the new ID as a "Brit Card" |
| However, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said it would not be called a Brit Card and was not even a card. | However, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said it would not be called a Brit Card and was not even a card. |
| He likened it to a digital payment card or boarding pass stored on a mobile phone. | He likened it to a digital payment card or boarding pass stored on a mobile phone. |
| The initiative, similar to schemes already operating in Australia, Estonia and Denmark, would be mandatory for adults in the UK. | The initiative, similar to schemes already operating in Australia, Estonia and Denmark, would be mandatory for adults in the UK. |
| In a post on X, Swinney said: "I am opposed to mandatory digital ID – people should be able to go about their daily lives without such infringements. | In a post on X, 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." | "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." |
| Supporters of digital ID say it would help people access online services securely | Supporters of digital ID say it would help people access online services securely |
| Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander said the "Brit Card" description was entirely wrong. | Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander said the "Brit Card" description was entirely wrong. |
| He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've got boarding passes, train tickets, Tesco Clubcards on our phones already. | He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've got boarding passes, train tickets, Tesco Clubcards on our phones already. |
| "And I can be very clear, you won't be required to carry it or produce it except to prove your right to work in the United Kingdom." | "And I can be very clear, you won't be required to carry it or produce it except to prove your right to work in the United Kingdom." |
| Alexander urged people not to "play politics" in the debate over the scheme, and said it would have other benefits for citizens. | Alexander urged people not to "play politics" in the debate over the scheme, and said it would have other benefits for citizens. |
| He added: "This is a development that I think reflects the fact that many of us want to see not only a secure identity online as more of our lives move online but also the opportunity to actually help us engage directly with public services. | He added: "This is a development that I think reflects the fact that many of us want to see not only a secure identity online as more of our lives move online but also the opportunity to actually help us engage directly with public services. |
| "How many times have any of us had to scrabble around the house to try to find an old utility bill." | "How many times have any of us had to scrabble around the house to try to find an old utility bill." |
| 'Blatant hypocrisy' | |
| The Scottish Conservatives said Labour's plans were flawed and would lead to "state control" which violated the right to privacy. | |
| But they also claimed John Swinney was guilty of "blatant hypocrisy" and "playing politics" in his opposition to the scheme. | |
| MSP Murdo Fraser said: "He was the architect of the hated named person scheme which was a form of state control even worse than what Keir Starmer is now proposing. | |
| "He was also Nicola Sturgeon's right hand man when the SNP proposed their own digital ID scheme in 2021." | |
| Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said she received a call from the UK government about the scheme on Thursday and was awaiting further details of how it would work. | Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said she received a call from the UK government about the scheme on Thursday and was awaiting further details of how it would work. |
| But she echoed Swinney's concern about any mandatory aspects of the plans. | But she echoed Swinney's concern about any mandatory aspects of the plans. |
| "We are opposed to the introduction of any cards that are compulsory to have or compulsory to carry or that anyone can demand to see," she said. | "We are opposed to the introduction of any cards that are compulsory to have or compulsory to carry or that anyone can demand to see," she said. |
| Forbes said there were already alternative methods of ensuring people had the right to work in the UK. | Forbes said there were already alternative methods of ensuring people had the right to work in the UK. |
| She said she was concerned that it was the start of something more intrusive, and also that there was no evidence on whether the public supported it. | She said she was concerned that it was the start of something more intrusive, and also that there was no evidence on whether the public supported it. |
| There are ways in which the Scottish government could be relatively sympathetic to an ID card scheme. | There are ways in which the Scottish government could be relatively sympathetic to an ID card scheme. |
| The experience of having thousands of young people sign up for free bus passes, some of them struggling with a lack of driver's licence or other formal identification, underlined potential positives to a nationally recognised scheme. | The experience of having thousands of young people sign up for free bus passes, some of them struggling with a lack of driver's licence or other formal identification, underlined potential positives to a nationally recognised scheme. |
| They also have their own national entitlement card system already, often known as the "Saltire card". | They also have their own national entitlement card system already, often known as the "Saltire card". |
| But there is one key thing they can't get on board with – that word "mandatory". | But there is one key thing they can't get on board with – that word "mandatory". |
| There is a core civil liberties argument behind this, that ministers govern with the consent of the citizenry; optional schemes would be fine, but not one which is a requirement. | There is a core civil liberties argument behind this, that ministers govern with the consent of the citizenry; optional schemes would be fine, but not one which is a requirement. |
| The notion of it being called a "Brit Card" was a red rag to a bull too, and drew an immediate reaction from John Swinney – but UK ministers have been quick to squash that rumour. | The notion of it being called a "Brit Card" was a red rag to a bull too, and drew an immediate reaction from John Swinney – but UK ministers have been quick to squash that rumour. |
| It was never going to be a goer really; concerns about how it would go down in Northern Ireland would be even more acute than those involving Scots. | It was never going to be a goer really; concerns about how it would go down in Northern Ireland would be even more acute than those involving Scots. |
| Whatever it's called though, it seems there is going to be yet another big domestic political issue for these two governments to squabble about in the run-up to next year's Holyrood election. | Whatever it's called though, it seems there is going to be yet another big domestic political issue for these two governments to squabble about in the run-up to next year's Holyrood election. |
| What did people in Scotland think of the ID plan? | What did people in Scotland think of the ID plan? |
| At Aberdeen beach on Friday, Brian Newport was on holiday from Australia. | At Aberdeen beach on Friday, Brian Newport was on holiday from Australia. |
| He said he has "seamlessly" lived with digital ID for some time back home, and backed the UK plan. | He said he has "seamlessly" lived with digital ID for some time back home, and backed the UK plan. |
| "I think it's a positive step, from my point of view, because if you have the right to work here then you've got that ID," he told BBC Scotland News. | "I think it's a positive step, from my point of view, because if you have the right to work here then you've got that ID," he told BBC Scotland News. |
| Brian Newport said digital ID worked well in Australia | Brian Newport said digital ID worked well in Australia |
| "We really don't get harassed for it very much. It's just a thing that we're used to, you know? We all know who's who. | "We really don't get harassed for it very much. It's just a thing that we're used to, you know? We all know who's who. |
| "If you've got nothing to hide, what's wrong with it? Bring it on, it's a good idea." | "If you've got nothing to hide, what's wrong with it? Bring it on, it's a good idea." |
| Bryan Cronin and Melissa Johansson also offered their opinion in Aberdeen | Bryan Cronin and Melissa Johansson also offered their opinion in Aberdeen |
| Bryan Cronin and Melissa Johansson had differing opinions. | Bryan Cronin and Melissa Johansson had differing opinions. |
| "I think we had IDs for pretty much everything," Bryan said. "You can't really avoid it. | "I think we had IDs for pretty much everything," Bryan said. "You can't really avoid it. |
| "I wonder if the objective is to try and catch people who shouldn't be working here. | "I wonder if the objective is to try and catch people who shouldn't be working here. |
| "I think it's a good idea, so I support it." | "I think it's a good idea, so I support it." |
| However, Melissa said: "I think it's another thing to worry about." | However, Melissa said: "I think it's another thing to worry about." |
| Kyle Simpson and Bo Cain had reservations about the plan | Kyle Simpson and Bo Cain had reservations about the plan |
| Bo Cain, 19, and Kyle Simpson, 20, had their doubts it was the right answer. | Bo Cain, 19, and Kyle Simpson, 20, had their doubts it was the right answer. |
| "It's just another thing to add to the list of things you've got to remember," Bo said. | "It's just another thing to add to the list of things you've got to remember," Bo said. |
| Kyle is worried about relying on digital technology. | Kyle is worried about relying on digital technology. |
| "Things go wrong," he said. | "Things go wrong," he said. |