United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce plans requiring all working adults in Great Britain to possess a government-issued digital identity card, according to multiple reports. The proposal, which could be revealed as early as Friday, aims to address illegal immigration by linking citizens’ rights to work and reside in the country to a centralized digital database.
Under the scheme, individuals seeking new employment or housing would need to present their digital ID via a smartphone app, with checks conducted against an official registry. Officials argue that physical identification documents are vulnerable to fraud, prompting calls for a more secure system. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously criticized the UK’s lack of ID cards, linking it to increased Channel crossings by migrants seeking informal work.
The plan faces sharp criticism from opposition figures and civil liberties advocates. Nigel Farage condemned the initiative as a tool for “controlling the population” and restricting freedoms. Meanwhile, eight civil liberties groups warned that mandatory digital IDs could drive undocumented migrants further into hiding.
Supporters, including former Labour minister Lord Blunkett, praised the move as necessary to combat exploitation, fraud, and unauthorized entry. However, concerns over data security and privacy persist. The proposal would require legislative changes and comes amid heightened pressure to address record-high boat crossings and a backlog of 75,000 asylum cases.
