The ID, the ego and the superego: Pochin and Farage scrap over cards

Way back in June, Rats in a Sack warned that Nigel Farage’s Reform might have some difficulties with its latest MP, Sarah Pochin, who holds the dubious distinction of having been kicked out of both the Conservative and independent groupings on Cheshire East council. Now it’s beginning to think a bet on her no longer being a Reform MP by the time of the next election is basically free money.

Pochin’s first act as an MP was to provoke the resignation of the party’s chair, Zia Yusuf, by using her first appearance at prime minister’s questions to demand a ban on the burqa (Yusuf u-turned 24 hours later). She then gave an interview to the Times magazine in which she effectively appointed herself prisons minister in a future Reform government.

Now she’s had a public disagreement with the Dear Leader – and seasoned Farage-watchers know that never ends well.

On Wednesday, Farage firmly set himself against mooted plans to introduce digital ID to tackle illegal immigration, reportedly being considered by Keir Starmer (and a hobby horse of one Mr T Blair). The Reform leader told a press conference that “I’m sure Tony Blair would have us all microchipped” and “no, I don’t support it, I don’t trust big government… I would not trust this government with digital ID.

Suggested Reading

Reform at war over trans prisoners

Rats in a Sack

“As for the argument ‘it’ll stop crime, it’ll stop illegal immigration, it’ll stop illegal working’… frankly, what it’s more likely to do is to impinge upon the law-abiding majority.”

Appearing on Peter Cardwell’s show on online station Talk last night, however, Pochin took a rather different tack.

“I personally don’t have a problem with an ID card,” she said. “I don’t see what the issue is. Most of our ID, most of our information now is on our smartphones anyway.” Asked what Reform’s policy was, she said: “I don’t think we have a clear policy at the moment. If we do, I don’t know what it is. But the point is, I’m giving you my opinion, Nigel might have a different opinion.”

Pochin seems unaware that Reform policy is whatever Farage says it is. How long until the party is back down to four MPs?