Labour MPs are already gearing up to revolt against the proposals while many other political parties are against it
Keir Starmer’s political gamble on ID cards appears to be unravelling amid a growing backlash. Some Labour MPs are already vowing to revolt against the controversial plan, which comes as Sir Keir struggles to stabilise his teetering premiership.
Reform, the Tories, the Lib Dems and Greens all oppose the scheme. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was forced to clear up confusion over whether the digital identification will be compulsory after a member of his top team suggested they weren’t. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy raised eyebrows by the ID card scheme “will not be mandatory for people to use it”. “It will be entirely their choice”.
Keir Starmer’s digital ID cards. (Image: Getty/Labour Together)
The smartphone-based cards are expected to be required for “right to work” checks by the end of this Parliament in 2029.
While the Labour leader has said they will be free, he has not revealed how the scheme costing taxpayers billions of pounds to set up and administer will be paid for.
Critics have called his plan a “cynical ploy” to fool voters into thinking something is being done about immigration.
Sir Keir confirmed the plans at a “global progress” summit in London insisting it is an opportunity to grip the problem.
More than 50,000 illegal migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel on small boats since he entered No 10 last year.
The Prime Minister admitted Labour has been “squeamish” about talking about the scale of the problem.
In a speech, Sir Keir told the summit: “For too many years, it’s been too easy for people to come here, slip into the shadow economy and remain here illegally.
“Because, frankly, we have been squeamish about saying things that are clearly true.
“It’s not just that it is not compassionate, left-wing politics to rely on labour that exploits foreign workers and undercuts fair wages.
“But the simple fact is that every nation needs to have control over its borders.
“We do need to know who is in our country.”
Sir Keir insisted this is why he is introducing digital ID cards for every adult in the UK.
He added: “Let me spell that out.
“You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.
“It’s as simple as that.”
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the plan would “make no difference” to illegal immigration, but it will be used to “control and penalise the rest of us”.
“The state should never have this much power,” he said.
More than 500,000 people have signed a petition against plans in the past 24 hours.
Civil liberties groups branded the introduction of a “papers please” society “un-British” – warning of a “Big Brother”-like creeping of state power that could see older and vulnerable people could be “locked out” from essential services.
The plans envisage ID cards being stored on devices in the same way as contactless payment cards or the NHS App.
People will not be required to carry the ID, which will be held on smartphones, or asked to produce it.
Doubts have been cast on how effective the move will be to stop people working illegally.
Shadow pensions secretary Helen Whately said current ID documents being easy to falsify is “simply not the problem”.
“We’re hearing about people working in the grey economy being paid in cash being often paid well below the minimum wage.
“This is not about law-abiding employees failing to be able to identify whether people’s ID is legal or not, they’re not even checking ID,” the Conservative MP told Sky News.
The digital ID would be the authoritative proof of identity and residency status in the UK and include name, date of birth, and a photo as well as information on nationality and residency status.
How the scheme will work for those who do not use smartphones will be addressed as part of the consultation process.
Those who do not want to carry a digital ID card or do not operate digitally could be given a physical card instead.
Mandatory ID cards have previously only existed during wartime but were then abolished.
Green Party MP Sian Berry said: “After being used in WW2 compulsory ID cards were abolished in 1952 because of the widespread sentiment that they are fundamentally at odds with British values and civil liberties.
“That was true then and it’s true now.”
The Liberal Democrats said they would fight “tooth and nail” against “nonsensical” plans for mandatory digital ID cards.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Keir Starmer seems determined to lead a Government of gimmicks – that just adds to our tax bills and bureaucracy, whilst doing next to nothing to tackle Channel crossings.
“Imagine if the Government devoted this much money and focus on getting GP waiting times down, or fixing social care, instead of pursuing the Labour Party’s decades long obsession with ID cards and more state control.
“It is nonsensical and the Liberal Democrats will fight against it tooth and nail – just as we successfully did against Tony Blair’s ID cards.”
Meanwhile, Sir Tony Blair’s think tank said the IDs could act as a “gateway” to Government services.
“The contribution digital ID can make to combating illegal migration and the criminal groups that exploit desperate people is part of this, but importantly, digital ID can do so much more for our citizens, our communities, and our country,” Alexander Iosad, director of government innovation policy at the Tony Blair Institute For Global Change said.
The former prime minister made moves to establish a voluntary ID card system during his time in office in the early 2000s and has since repeated his call for their introduction.
