TWO West Somerset MPs have joined the fight against Government plans to fund a £1.8 billion scheme to introduce a digital ID system which would be paid for with savings in Departmental budgets.

Minehead and Tiverton constituency’s Liberal Democrat Rachel Gilmour said she will continue to fight the Government’s ‘costly and problematic scheme which would divert money away from vital public services’.

Neighbouring Bridgwater constituency Conservative Sir Ashley Fox argued the scheme was ‘authoritarian, expensive, and un-British’.

Last month, it was reported Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, had written to all Ministers asking for substantial Departmental savings to be made in order to fund the digital ID plans.

According to the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), the digital ID scheme is projected to cost about £1.8 billion over the course of three years.

The OBR had previously stated ‘no specific savings’ had been identified to fund the digital ID project.

Attacking the scheme this week, Mrs Gilmour said: “People across my constituency are struggling to pay their bills, access healthcare, and keep their business afloat.

“The Government must get their priorities straight and put that £1.8 billion of taxpayers’ money to better use.

“I have made my opinion on mandatory digital ID clear, the Government should focus its efforts and resources on actually improving the lives of people across the UK, not to mention the issues around Government overreach.

“I will continue to fight against this costly and problematic scheme.”

Sir Ashley said nearly three million people across the UK had signed a petition to stop digital ID, including more than 5,300 residents from the Bridgwater constituency, which covers large parts of West Somerset

He said it was clear from emails and correspondence that his constituents were firmly opposed to the introduction of digital identification.

Sir Ashley said: “Mandatory ID, whether physical or digital, fundamentally alters the relationship between the citizen and the State.

“It moves us from being a country where people are free to act unless something is prohibited, to one where a person needs the permission of the State to do certain things.

“That is a serious shift in the balance of power and it should not be rushed through as a political gimmick.

“The Government claim that digital ID will help crack down on illegal migration and illegal working.

“That is nonsense.

“Employers already have a duty to conduct right-to-work checks and those who break the law now, will continue to do so.

“What is missing is the will of this Government to enforce the existing law.”

Sir Ashley warned that although Ministers insisted digital ID would not be mandatory, it would in reality become compulsory for anybody in work and could expand across public services, making it unavoidable for most citizens.

He said: “This policy was not in the Labour manifesto.

“It has not been voted for by the British people.

“It is authoritarian, expensive, and un-British, and on behalf of my Somerset constituents I shall resist it.”