Keir Starmer is poised to introduce digital identity cards known as “BritCards” for adults in the UK as part of efforts to combat illegal migration. The Prime Minister is expected to make this announcement in a speech scheduled for tomorrow, enabling the verification of individuals’ right to reside and work in the UK.
Under the proposed system, every adult would be required to possess a digital ID, accessible through a GOV.UK smartphone application, when seeking employment or rental accommodation in the UK. This digital ID would be cross-checked against a centralized database containing information on individuals entitled to live and work in the country.
The implementation of digital ID cards aims to streamline the process of verifying immigration status, thereby discouraging illegal employment practices, especially within delivery services, and cracking down on unscrupulous landlords. The concept of introducing ID cards has been advocated for by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, although the government had previously dismissed the idea. However, a recent report from the think tank Labour Together, forwarded to No10’s policy unit in the summer, has reignited discussions on the matter.
Labour Together suggests that the ID cards would be issued free of charge to all individuals with the right to reside and work in the UK, with estimated setup costs ranging from £140 million to £400 million. Apart from immigration control, the digital cards could offer additional consumer benefits such as eliminating the need to carry a passport for collecting deliveries at the Post Office and potentially serving as a form of identification for purchasing alcohol.
Keir Starmer is scheduled to address the Global Progress Action Summit in London alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Prime Minister recently emphasized the potential importance of an ID card system in tackling illegal migration, acknowledging the evolving landscape of digital identity compared to the debates of the 2000s under the previous Labour government.
In a statement to the BBC, the Prime Minister highlighted the increased prevalence of digital IDs in society over the past two decades, suggesting a shift in the perception and role of such identification tools.