PMQs live: Starmer clashes with Badenoch as PM criticised over ‘shambolic’ digital ID U-turn

Sir Keir Starmer has now taken to the floor for Prime Minister’s Questions.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Labour MPs are furious about an attempt by the government to bring in a ban protests outside animal testing laboratories.

A vote on an amendment to the Public Order Bill is going through the Commons today with a result expected at around 2.30pm.

But Labour backbenchers are preparing to make it the latest rebellion following those on welfare cuts, ditching jury trials and winter fuel payments for pensioners.

One rebel told The Independent: “We are furious. We voted against exactly the same plans when the Tories tried to bring them in and there is going to be a significant rebellion on this.”

The issue is seen as the latest in a line of attempts to undermine the right to protest in the UK.

Prime Minister’s Questions will begin at 12pm on Monday.

Sir Keir Starmer has been pictured leaving 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to parliament to face questions – many of which are likely to centre around his U-turn on digital ID.

Away from scrapping mandatory digital ID, here are today’s politics headlines at a glance:

• Rachel Reeves has confirmed pubs will receive “more temporary support” in another climbdown from a Budget decision on an upcoming hike in business rates

• Britain is intensifying its focus on Arctic security, the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said as she tours Scandinavia

• Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce plans to build a new railway line between Birmingham and Manchester

• A police chief blamed the use of AI in an apology to MPs for giving them an error in evidence about the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from their game against Aston Villa in November

A Green councillor in Merseyside has left the party to defect to Reform UK.

Cllr Hawley, who represents Bold & Lea Green ward, said his views “no longer align” with the Green party on both a “national and local” level.

“During my time as a councillor, I have passionately worked alongside the local community to better protect green spaces, improve public transport and engage with local schools,” he said.

“I voted for Brexit to take back control of Britain’s borders and lower immigration, yet the government failed to do so.

“It is time for me to join the party which best represents the views of myself and the people of St Helens in order to act on the improvements I have long strived for.

“I am excited to be joining an expanding team of Reform UK councillors to really tackle the issues many of the residents have previously raised with me.

“I have lived in St Helens my whole life and I look forward to bringing a brighter and more hopeful future to the town.”

The U-turn on mandatory digital ID cards is one of a string of reversals made by Sir Keir Starmer’s government during its time in office.

From the watering down of the government’s flagship benefits bill to a major U-turn on the controversial winter fuel cut last year, Labour has been criticised heavily over its policy changes.

The Independent’s political correspondents Millie Cooke and Athena Stavrou have taken a look back at all the U-turns this Labour government have made.

Public support for a digital ID card system reversed following the government’s announcement of its plans in September, statistics from YouGov show.

According to the poll, opposition to the plans hovered at around 13 per cent in June 2025.

But by December 2025, this had soared to 31 per cent.

Meanwhile, strong support in June 2025 was recorded at around 24 per cent, but dropped to 14 per cent by December.

Sir Keir Starmer said Britain should “embrace” voluntary ID cards as he defended his policy in October.

The comments, which were made before the backtrack on making digital IDs compulsory, came as the prime minister insisted the IDs were important to meet his party’s manifesto pledge to tackle illegal migration.

“We need to address the fact that too many people can come to this country and work illegally,” he said.

“And that’s why ID mandatory for working is really important. I think there is a case to be made about the benefits for voluntary ID into other areas, and obviously we need to make that case.

“I think it’s a really important discussion for us to have. So on the one hand, it’s mandatory for work, but I actually think it would be a good passport.

“I don’t know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that, [it] drives me to frustration. I do think that we could gain a significant advantage.”

Scotland’s First Minister has welcomed the UK Government’s U-turn on its “foolhardy” digital ID plans, saying it had been “flawed from the beginning”.

Mr Swinney went on to accuse prime minister Sir Keir Starmer of “always changing his mind,” adding: “I think the point of consistency that is now emerging from the prime minister is he’s always changing his mind.

“I think this is about the 13th U-turn that the prime minister has undertaken, so I think it’s just another illustration of why people are supporting the trusted leadership of the Scottish National Party government here in Scotland, because we deliver what we promise.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke has more below: