Britain is once again stepping into fraught territory: mandatory digital identification cards. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government on Friday announced that all citizens and permanent residents will need a digital ID to get work, reviving a plan that has divided the country for decades.
The government argues the move will crack down on illegal immigration, curb under-the-table jobs, and streamline access to public services like healthcare, welfare, and childcare.
“It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure,” Starmer said as quoted by Associated Press. “And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly, rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.”
Why it matters now
The announcement comes against the backdrop of record numbers of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel. Last year, about 37,000 people made the dangerous journey in small boats. This year, more than 30,000 have already crossed.
Starmer has pledged to cut those numbers by targeting smuggling gangs and reducing so-called 'pull factors' that make Britain attractive, Associated Press reported. One of those, he argues, is the ease with which undocumented migrants can find work.
Britain’s uneasy history with ID cards
Unlike much of continental Europe, Britain has long resisted the idea of compulsory ID cards. The country abandoned paper ID cards after World War II and has repeatedly rejected new attempts to introduce them.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair pushed biometric ID cards in the early 2000s, framing them as a tool against terrorism and fraud. The proposal collapsed under fierce public and parliamentary backlash, with critics branding it a step toward a surveillance state.
“There’s always been this feeling that Britain is not a ‘papers, please’ society,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. “In contrast to other countries where ID cards are very common, the British see it as an intrusion on liberty.”
Civil liberties vs. convenience
Civil rights campaigners remain skeptical, warning of privacy risks and government overreach. But others see potential benefits.
Bale noted that citizens already provide proof of ID in countless everyday situations, from renting homes to opening bank accounts. “A digital ID card would actually be quite useful,” he said.
Starmer’s government has emphasised that people will not need to carry the card physically. However, it will be mandatory to secure employment, a significant shift in Britain’s legal landscape.
Now what?
The government says the system will also work for people who don’t own smartphones. A public consultation will be launched to hammer out the details, including safeguards against misuse of data.
With Parliament still to weigh in, the plan is likely to ignite a heated debate over how far Britain is willing to trade personal freedom for security and efficiency.
For now, the message is clear: Starmer wants digital IDs to become central to working, living, and accessing services in modern Britain.
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