Lord Blunkett says government needs direction and leadership

Lord Blunkett criticised recent government U-turns, particularly the decision to drop mandatory digital ID for work by 2029, and urged ministers to set out clearer strategy and stick to decisions.

Lord Blunkett describes recent government reversals as bewildering and highlights the decision to abandon plans to make digital ID mandatory for work by 2029. He says the original announcement was unexpected and followed by little public explanation from ministers. As a Labour peer and former Cabinet minister, he supports the government but warns that repeated U-turns are damaging political credibility. He argues that ministers and the Treasury have often failed to match policy reasoning with political judgement. What is known: - The article reports the government dropped the plan to make digital ID mandatory for anyone wishing to work in the UK by 2029. - Lord Blunkett, identified as a Labour peer and former Home Secretary, criticised repeated policy reversals and pointed to the Treasury's role. - The piece cites earlier contentious moves, including changes to the winter fuel allowance, a proposal on farmland inheritance, welfare reform debates, and a reversal on hospitality measures affecting pubs. - Blunkett warned these patterns risk undermining public confidence and could affect Labour's prospects in upcoming regional and local elections, the article says. Summary: Lord Blunkett warns that a string of policy reversals is undermining coherent messaging and voter confidence. Undetermined at this time.