Some strategic Parliamentary questions from Alex Burghart have identified that the £600,000 Digital ID people’s assembly will only allow 18-year-olds in:
“Participants will be recruited through a process called sortition. This is a random postcode lottery. It is a way of selecting individuals to take part in deliberative processes, where everyone is given an equal chance to be invited. No individual can buy their way in or simply turn up at the event. All participants must be 18 or over to join the People’s Panel.
Participants are paid in line with industry standards. Payment recognises the time that people are giving up to take part and ensures that a diverse range of participants (e.g. including those on low-incomes, unemployed, with caring responsibilities, etc.) can participate. Payments are aligned to each workshop they attend, so may vary depending on attendance.
The People’s Panel will cost approximately £630,000 This will be covered under a pre-existing contract with Ipsos, which is the primary vendor, signed in March 2024.”
At Labour’s latest NEC meeting Starmer stressed his intention to give 16-year-olds the vote as quickly as possible. But they can’t chip in their views on Digital ID…
Burghart – serving as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – tells Guido: “More incoherent drivel from Labour. They want 16-year-olds to vote but won’t let them sit on focus groups. They’ve not the faintest idea what they’re doing.” Pity Darren Jones – Starmer’s ‘SpAd minister’ – who has been relegated to dealing with this policy and not much else…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”