Watch the moment GB News star Dawn Neesom is forced to step in as an explosive row spilled over.
Former Tory MP Neil Parish and political commentator Benjamin Butterworth locked horns in a feisty moment over the idea of national digital ID cards.
It comes after former Prime Minister Tony Blair said the policy will help combat “populism”.
Butterworth insisted such a step would make “very little difference” to the average Briton and it is a logical move in many ways.
Benjamin Butterworth clashed with Neil Parish on GB News
GB NEWS
Parish furiously rebuked the suggestion, arguing it’s a sign of a repressive government.
“I think there’s a generational gap here”, said Parish.
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“This idea that you’re going to trade around with this blasted ID card and every illegal immigrant can get a job is absolute nonsense. There’s so much potential fraud in it.
“Why on earth have we, all of us older people and everyone across the country got to have ID cards so it will be a problem for illegal immigrants? It’s another big brother move.
“Technology to you guys is second nature, it’s not the case to us. You’re excluding the older generation all of the time. I don’t think anybody is convinced by it.”
Butterworth said that some elderly people having difficulties with ID cards should not mean we avoid making use of the “efficiencies” available.
Dawn Neesom was forced to step in
GB NEWS
“There’s no electronic system that is not actually capable of being got into”, Parish warned.
“I think you will find there will be a huge amount of abuse. It’s not worth the risk.”
Butterworth pointed to passports, saying the likeliness of fraud is extremely low due to the difficulty in replicating the document.
“Most people, when they pay for things, they tap their card or phone”, said Butterworth.
“Your generation does”, Parish hit back. “You can call me a luddite. I don’t mind, I will take it as a compliment.”
“Why should everybody change because your generation decides you don’t need all this stuff then wait until the whole damn thing is broken into.”
“It’s not a constructive argument”, said Butterworth.
“When you have billions of pounds lost to the state, lost to British people, because people are working here illegally, the idea you can just have a card and that can cut out that kind of risk.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has long championed the idea of digital ID cards
PA
“I don’t think just because some find it difficult is an argument.”
Parish furiously refuted the remarks, saying “it’s another form of big brother. This Government wants to entirely control us. Tony Blair said it will control populism, what on earth does that mean?
“Does that mean because I’m not a socialist, I’m a populist? When I’ve got this card, I’m going to be targeted.”
Dawn was forced to step in as tensions threatened to spill over, shouting “seconds out” as she fought to control the debate’s proceedings.
Blair called for the government to “reorder” itself around artificial intelligence and embrace digital ID technology.
Speaking to The Times, he suggested the public would be willing to sacrifice privacy for increased efficiency in public services.
The former Labour leader outlined several key applications for digital ID technology, including processing border arrivals and preventing benefit fraud.
“It’s sending a signal that there’s no point in thinking you’re going to come here and disappear into a kind of grey economy,” he said.
Ministers are set to launch a digital “wallet” in June, allowing people to store driving licences and other ID on smartphones.