UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday unveiled plans for a new nationwide digital ID aimed at tackling illegal migration, sparking heated debate in a country historically resistant to identity cards.
The digital ID, to be stored on people’s phones, will not need to be carried or presented in everyday situations, but it will be mandatory for proving the right to work. “Let me spell it out, you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” Starmer said in a speech.
The government says the scheme, expected to launch by 2029, will also simplify access to services like driving licences, childcare, welfare, and tax records. Starmer called it “an enormous opportunity for the UK,” pledging it would deliver fairness and efficiency.
However, the proposal faces strong political pushback. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch vowed that the Conservatives would resist any attempt to impose mandatory IDs, while the Liberal Democrats criticized the plan as a threat to privacy. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage dismissed it as government overreach.
A petition opposing ID cards had gathered more than 825,000 signatures by Friday, even as polls suggest the majority of the public supports the idea. The government promised a public consultation later this year and said the scheme would also accommodate those unable to use smartphones, including the homeless and elderly.
What you should know
The UK government’s push for digital IDs marks a major shift in policy, making proof of ID mandatory for work while pledging broader service access.
Though backed by public polling, the move faces strong opposition from rival parties who argue it threatens privacy and civil freedoms.
