On Friday, the U.K. government announced a controversial new policy requiring British citizens and permanent residents to present a mandatory digital identification card for employment. This initiative aims to combat unauthorized immigration and reduce the underground economy by making it more challenging for individuals to work illegally.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the benefits of the digital ID system, stating that it will enhance border security while providing ordinary citizens with greater ease in accessing essential services like health care, welfare, and child care. "It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country," he remarked, highlighting the potential advantages of swiftly proving one’s identity when interacting with public services, instead of searching for outdated documents such as utility bills.
Historically, the concept of compulsory identity cards in Britain has been met with significant resistance. The country has not enforced ID cards for regular citizens since the aftermath of World War II. Civil rights advocates have long argued that mandatory ID cards pose a threat to personal freedoms and privacy, raising concerns about the safety of individuals’ information.
Efforts to introduce biometric ID cards were previously made by former Prime Minister Tony Blair two decades ago, but this initiative was ultimately abandoned due to widespread public and parliamentary opposition. Political expert Tim Bale from Queen Mary University of London noted that while the U.K. has traditionally fostered a sense of not being a "Papers, please" society—contrasting it with continental Europe where ID cards are more common—the necessity of proving one’s identity in various situations does raise the question of whether a digital ID might be beneficial.
Starmer's administration clarified that while the digital ID card will be mandatory for obtaining employment, people will not need to carry it with them or be routinely asked to present it. Furthermore, the system will accommodate individuals who do not possess smartphones, and a public consultation will be held to finalize the specifics of the implementation.
Like previous Conservative governments, Starmer's Labour Party is grappling with the challenge of halting the influx of migrants crossing the English Channel in small, unsafe boats often operated by smugglers. Reports indicated that approximately 37,000 individuals crossed the Channel in small boats last year alone, with over 30,000 having done so thus far in the current year.
In response to this ongoing issue, Starmer has pledged to reduce the number of migrant crossings by targeting criminal smuggling networks and minimizing what he refers to as the "pull factors" that attract migrants to the U.K. A significant aspect of these pull factors is the perception that finding undeclared work in the country is relatively easy.
As the government moves forward with its plans for a digital ID card, the debate regarding civil liberties versus the need for security measures continues to provoke intense discussion across various segments of society. The upcoming public consultation will be an important step in determining how this policy will shape the future of identification and employment in the U.K.
