The United Kingdom government has announced plans to introduce compulsory government-issued digital ID cards for all adults in a bid to reduce illegal immigration and tighten enforcement against those working without authorisation.
The country’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to outline the proposals, which centre on the creation of a so-called ‘Brit Card’.
The new digital ID would act as proof of a citizen’s right to live and work in the UK. It marks the latest step by the government to address the pull factors drawing migrants to the country, Sky News reports.
The scheme will require public consultation and legislation before being rolled out nationwide.
Under the plans, anyone starting a new job would need to present a Brit Card, which employers could check against a central government database.
Immigration enforcement officers would then be able to see which checks had been completed and trace those working illegally.
Currently, employers rely on physical documents such as passports or biometric residence permits, but ministers argue these can be faked.
Supporters of the new system say digital IDs will make verification faster and reduce abuse of the system.
However, the policy has already triggered criticism across the political spectrum. David Davis, a former Conservative minister, said: “While digital IDs and ID cards sound like modern and efficient solutions to problems like illegal immigration, such claims are misleading at best. The systems involved are profoundly dangerous to the privacy and fundamental freedoms of the British people.”
He added: “No system is immune to failure, and we have seen time and again governments and tech giants fail to protect people’s personal data. If world-leading companies cannot protect our data, I have little faith that Whitehall would be able to do better.”
Civil liberties groups have also raised the alarm.
Big Brother Watch, which has launched a petition now backed by more than 101,000 people, told the prime minister in a letter:
“Mandatory digital ID is highly unlikely to achieve the government’s objective of tackling unauthorised immigration.
The proposed schemes fundamentally misunderstand the ‘pull factors’ that drive migration to the UK and would do very little to tackle criminal people-smuggling gangs or employers and landlords who operate ‘off the books’. Instead, it would push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows, into more precarious work and unsafe housing.”
Supporters within Labour argue the scheme could help close loopholes. Labour peer Harriet Harman told Sky News in July that ID cards would “make it more difficult for people to work illegally”.
She also suggested digital IDs could simplify voter registration by confirming eligibility directly, removing what she called the “difficulties of registering to vote.”
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has also pressed the UK on the issue, saying the lack of national ID cards acts as a major incentive for Channel crossings.
His comments have been cited within Whitehall as evidence that the Brit Card could help stem illegal migration at its source.
The announcement represents a significant shift for Sir Keir Starmer, who as a human rights lawyer had been sceptical of such measures because of their impact on civil liberties.
However, it is understood he has been persuaded that tougher measures are needed to disrupt the black economy and deter irregular migration. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is also backing the proposals.
The policy echoes earlier attempts under Labour. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair originally championed the introduction of ID cards during his time in office, but the policy was scrapped after Labour lost the 2010 general election.
Blair revived his call for ID cards in July 2024, only two days after Starmer’s election, describing them as the “best solution” for immigration control.
The UK has only previously had mandatory ID cards during wartime, with the last set abolished in 1952. If implemented, the Brit Card would mark the first nationwide ID scheme in more than 70 years.