UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a new plan to introduce free digital identification for citizens and residents as part of efforts to reduce illegal migration.
According to the government, the initiative will also simplify access to essential services such as driving licences, childcare, welfare, and tax records.
The proposed digital ID will be stored on mobile phones, with no requirement for individuals to carry a physical copy or present it on demand.
However, it will be mandatory for proving eligibility to work in the country.
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“This will stop those with no right to be here from being able to find work, curbing their prospect of earning money, one of the key ‘pull factors’ for people who come to the UK illegally,” the government explained in a statement.
The announcement comes ahead of the Labour Party’s annual conference, where immigration is expected to be a major topic of debate.
Prime Minister Starmer said, “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK… it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits. We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain for those who want to see change, not division.”
The UK has long resisted the idea of identity cards, but recent polling indicates growing public support for the policy.
