Britain will introduce a mandatory digital ID system for citizens and residents starting new jobs. The government says the plan will help deter illegal immigration and strengthen border security.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the move in a statement on Friday. He said the policy will make it tougher to work illegally in Britain and ensure employers carry out stronger checks when hiring workers.
Immigration is currently one of the top concerns for voters. Starmer is under pressure to reduce illegal migration, including small boat crossings from France. The digital ID is part of wider efforts to address these concerns.
According to the plan, the digital ID will be stored on mobile phones. It will become mandatory by the end of the current parliament in 2029. Over time, it may also be used to access services such as childcare, welfare, and tax records.
The opposition has criticized the scheme. Reform UK argued the system will not stop illegal workers, who often rely on cash-in-hand jobs. The party also said the digital ID risks limiting the freedoms of law-abiding citizens.
This is not the first attempt to create a national identity system. In the 2000s, Tony Blair’s Labour government proposed identity cards. The plan was later dropped by Gordon Brown after criticism over civil liberties.
The proposal has also faced backlash in Northern Ireland. First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Fein called it “ludicrous and ill-thought out.” She warned it would harm the Good Friday Agreement and affect the rights of Irish citizens in the region.
Currently, people in Britain use passports and driving licences as proof of identity. If implemented, the new digital ID scheme would mark the first compulsory identity system since World War Two.
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