New System

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that all workers in the UK would be required to have digital ID cards by the end of the decade.

Context

The UK has faced ongoing debates over illegal immigration, with particular concern about migrants crossing the English Channel and working illegally. Many asylum seekers have been housed in hotels while awaiting processing, inflaming public tensions as immigration has reemerged as a top concern for British voters.

Unlike most European countries, where ID cards are common, Britain has resisted mandatory identification systems, with a previous attempt collapsing due to costs and liberty concerns.

Digital ID Requirements

Starmer announced last week that every worker in Britain would need to obtain a government-issued digital ID card to prove their right to work by the end of the decade.

The cards would be stored on smartphones, similar to contactless payment systems, and would include a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and photograph. “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” Starmer said during a speech in London. While the cards would be mandatory for employment, people would not need to carry them at all times or present them on demand.

Political Pressure

The announcement came as Starmer’s Labour Party faced mounting pressure over immigration, with more than 50,000 migrants arriving on small boats since Labour took office in July 2024. Recent polling showed Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party leading in public opinion surveys, despite holding only five parliamentary seats.

Starmer acknowledged that left-wing parties, including his own, had been “squeamish” about addressing immigration concerns and said it had been “too easy for people to enter the country, work in the shadow economy and remain illegally.”

Opposition

The plan drew immediate criticism from across the political spectrum. The conservative leader said the system would “do nothing to stop the boats” and raised concerns about data security. A Liberal Democrat leader promised to “fight tooth and nail” against the scheme. One of the politicians who worked on the original ID card proposal welcomed the decision, citing benefits including age verification, protection from fraud, and deterring unauthorized entry.

Civil liberties groups, including both Liberty and Big Brother Watch, warned about mass surveillance risks.