Digital ID won’t work if you live in rural areas | Letters

Letters: Universal phone coverage is yet to arrive in Britain, making a mockery of the government’s planned scheme, writes Teresa Rodrigues. Plus a letter from Sarah Davidson

What needs to be spelled out to the politicians looking to consult people about digital ID is that you cannot have a universal digital anything until you have universal phone coverage (UK digital ID scheme to have limited use before next general election, minister says, 10 March). When the old copper phone lines are switched off, we will be cut off because no provider will invest in our area, and this is not untypical of large areas of Devon.

That means that any digital ID accessed by phone will not be available to us unless we go and park in a layby every day where we can get signal. Does Darren Jones, the prime minister’s chief secretary, even understand this point? We are not refuseniks. We just live near a hill, and so we won’t be able to do our car tax, get our medical records or anything else as things stand.

This is not a lifestyle choice either because we had a properly functioning analog TV signal as well as a landline when we moved here. We can’t give out our mobile number to anybody important because we know that the device will let us down, and we are paying the same as everyone else – have been for years.
Teresa Rodrigues
Crediton, Devon

• It is refreshing news that the UK government intends to convene a citizens’ assembly to inform its ambition for digital IDs, and Darren Jones is right to note that these initiatives can help break the deadlock in big debates.

But our research at Carnegie UK shows that approaches such as citizens’ juries and panels need to be carefully designed and meaningful if they’re going to help to restore the public’s trust in politics and democracy. A key test will be whether ministers are truly willing to share power with those who participate.

This initiative, along with the home affairs select committee work on immigration, are rare moments to show how our democracy can evolve to grapple with complex issues.

Parliament and the government must rise to the challenge and use these opportunities not just to grapple with the issues ahead of them but also to showcase the advantages offered by genuinely involving the public in decision-making.
Sarah Davidson
Chief executive, Carnegie UK

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.