NORTH Cornwall’s MP has welcomed the news of the government’s decision to drop its plans for a mandatory Digital ID scheme.

Ben Maguire, the area’s Liberal Democrat MP has described the government’s U-turn a ‘huge win for common sense’. The MP has been very outspoken on the matter, ever since the government announced the scheme at the end of 2025.

In October he said: “The government's scheme is set to cost billions to roll out, completely dwarfing their proposed savings of the damaging Family Farm Tax. That’s before you get to serious data security and civil liberty concerns.

“And many of my rural and some elderly constituents don't currently have access to a smart phone, or stable internet.

“I urged the minister to listen to her backbenchers many were also against the mandatory scheme and cancel this dangerous proposal, before billions in taxpayer funds are wasted on a vanity project.”

According to the Mr Maguire, nearly 6,000 residents in North Cornwall signed the official petition opposing the scheme, alongside almost three million people nationwide.

The MP has spoken on the issue a number of times in the House of Commons, and signed several cross-party letters to the Prime Minister.

Commenting on the U-turn announcement, Ben Maguire MP said: “This latest U-turn by the Government marks a huge win for common sense, and for the thousands of people in North Cornwall who spoke up and refused to be ignored.

"From day one, my constituents were very clear that they did not want a mandatory Digital ID scheme. It would've cost us billions, undermined privacy, and risked locking out rural and older people.

"I raised their concerns time and time again in Parliament, and Ministers have now been forced to listen."