LONDON — Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday unveiled plans for a national digital identification system, a move the Labour government argues will help curb illegal migration while streamlining access to public services, according to “Hurriyet Daily News.
The digital ID, designed to be stored on mobile phones, will become mandatory as proof of the right to work in Britain. Officials say the system is intended to prevent undocumented migrants from gaining employment — a major draw for those entering the country illegally.
“This will close off one of the key pull factors for people who come to the U.K. without permission,” the government said in a statement. Starmer added that the system would not only strengthen border enforcement but also deliver practical benefits, from faster access to tax records to simplified applications for childcare, welfare, and driving licenses.
The proposal lands ahead of Labour’s annual party conference, where Starmer faces mounting pressure over immigration policy. He framed the initiative as both pragmatic and progressive. “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity,” he said. “We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain.”
Still, the plan has already sparked fierce political resistance. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch vowed her party would block “any push to impose mandatory ID cards on law-abiding citizens.” The Liberal Democrats warned against forcing Britons to “hand over their private data just to go about daily life,” while Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage dismissed the scheme as government overreach.
Public opinion appears more divided. A petition against digital IDs has drawn more than 650,000 signatures, yet recent polling suggests majority support nationwide. The government said it will launch a public consultation later this year, promising safeguards for people without smartphones and outreach to vulnerable groups.
