Nearly 4% of residents in Shepton Mallet and Wells have signed a petition calling on the Government to drop its plans for mandatory digital ID cards.

The nationwide petition — which passed one million signatures this week — claims the proposed scheme would lead to "mass surveillance" and risk excluding people without access to digital services.

In Wells and Shepton Mallet, 3.99% of the population has added their names to the campaign, which demands a full rejection of any national digital identity system.

Under the Labour Government's plans, digital ID cards would be introduced by the end of this Parliament. Citizens and legal residents would use a smartphone app or physical card to prove their right to work and access key services.

Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke, whose constituency includes parts of the area, has launched a separate petition alongside fellow Liberal Democrat MPs opposing the rollout.

"It will potentially cost billions to implement, and for what?" she said. "People should not be forced to turn over their private data just to go about their daily lives."

The Government argues that the system will strengthen border controls and simplify public administration, but critics warn it could lead to people being denied access to services if they cannot or choose not to use the technology.

Parliament must consider any petition that reaches 100,000 signatures for debate. The campaign continues to grow, with Glastonbury and Street showing even stronger opposition locally — where 4.4% of residents have signed.

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