On Friday, Britain announced plans to implement a mandatory digital ID system for citizens and residents starting new jobs, aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
“This will make it harder to work illegally and strengthen our borders,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, highlighting the initiative previously reported.
Immigration remains a top concern for British voters, with Starmer facing pressure to prevent illegal entries, particularly via small boats from France.
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The proposal, which the government had been considering, faced criticism from political opponents arguing it won’t deter migration and may infringe on civil liberties.
The government explained that the digital ID, stored on mobile phones, will be mandatory for employment checks and, eventually, for accessing services like childcare, welfare, and tax records.
In the 2000s, Starmer’s Labour Party, under Tony Blair, proposed an identity card system, but it was dropped by Blair’s successor, Gordon Brown, over civil liberty concerns.
Since the abolition of identity cards post-World War Two, Britons typically use passports and driving licences for identity verification.
