UK Government to Mandate Digital ID to Tackle Illegal Migration
- The UK government has unveiled plans to make digital ID mandatory for employment, aiming to curb illegal migration and secure borders
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the scheme would deliver “countless benefits” to citizens while making it harder to work unlawfully
- Opposition parties have criticised the move, warning of increased bureaucracy and threats to civil liberties
The UK government has announced plans to make digital ID mandatory for anyone seeking employment in the country, as part of a broader strategy to curb illegal migration.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the scheme would make it more difficult for individuals to work in the UK unlawfully and would deliver “countless benefits” to citizens.
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Speaking ahead of the Global Progressive Action Conference in London, Sir Keir stated: “I know working people are worried about the level of illegal migration into this country.
A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands, and this government is listening and delivering.” He described digital ID as “an enormous opportunity for the UK,” adding that it would strengthen border security and simplify access to essential services.
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Consultation on digital ID roll-out to begin this year
The government confirmed that a public consultation on the delivery of the digital ID service would be launched later this year, with particular attention given to ensuring accessibility for individuals without smartphones.
The consultation is expected to last three months, with legislation anticipated in early 2026.
Downing Street clarified that while individuals will not be required to carry or present their ID, digital identification will be compulsory for proving the right to work in the UK by the end of the current Parliament, expected no later than 2029.
The digital ID will be stored on mobile devices, akin to contactless payment systems or the NHS app, It will include a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photograph. The consultation will also explore whether additional data, such as addresses, should be incorporated.
Opposition parties raise concerns over privacy and bureaucracy
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The announcement has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said she could “see the rationale” for verifying legal residency but opposed compulsory ID cards.
She argued the scheme would “make law-abiding people have to jump through more hoops and employers have more red tape, while in the grey economy illegal working will just go on.”
Liberal Democrat MP and tech spokesperson Victoria Collins voiced concerns over privacy, stating: “Liberal Democrats cannot support a mandatory digital ID where people are forced to turn over their private data just to go about their daily lives.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK dismissed the initiative as a “cynical ploy to fool voters that something is being done about illegal immigration.”
Meanwhile, the SNP-led Scottish government reiterated its opposition to any form of compulsory ID, including digital formats. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neil described the proposal as “ill-thought out” and “an attack on the Good Friday Agreement and on the rights of Irish citizens in the North of Ireland.”
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Digital ID to streamline access to public services
Despite the backlash, the government maintained that the digital ID scheme would simplify applications for services such as driving licences, childcare, welfare, and tax records.
Officials have reportedly been exploring whether the system could reduce the use of fraudulent documents and offer a more consistent method for verifying identity.
Currently, employers are required to conduct checks on prospective employees. Since 2022, passport-holding British and Irish citizens have been subject to verification, while non-British or Irish nationals can be checked via a Home Office online system. The new digital ID is expected to enhance these processes and deter illegal working.
World Bank to partner FG in registration for digital IDs
Legit.ng earlier reported that Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, has announced plans to partner with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure the successful registration and rollout of digital national IDs for all Nigerians.
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The target is to provide 148 million people of working age with digital Identity by mid-2024 to mark an essential step towards inclusion and accessibility.
Chaudhuri disclosed this at a dinner with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in Abuja on Friday, August 25, 2023.
Source: Legit.ng
