LONDON (AP) - The British government has revised its plans regarding mandatory digital identification cards, an initiative it had initially presented as a means to manage immigration more effectively. This decision marks the latest in a series of policy shifts by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, which is currently facing scrutiny from opposition parties and even from within the Labour Party itself.
On Wednesday, government officials announced that citizens and residents will not be required to present a digital ID card to obtain employment, thereby eliminating a central element of the policy that was proposed in September. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander clarified that while a digital ID could serve as a method to confirm one’s eligibility to work, it would not be the sole requirement; other documents, such as biometric passports, could also fulfill this role.
The government assured that comprehensive details regarding the digital ID cards would be unveiled following an extensive public consultation expected to commence soon. In his original announcement in September, Starmer had stated emphatically that “you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that.” He asserted that the program would help mitigate unauthorized immigration by making it more difficult for individuals to engage in the underground economy while also simplifying access to healthcare, welfare, childcare, and other essential public services.
However, immediate public backlash followed Starmer’s declaration, as polls indicated a significant decline in support for the digital ID initiative soon after he endorsed it. The concept of mandatory identity cards for citizens has been a contentious issue in Britain since they were abolished shortly after World War II. Civil rights advocates have consistently argued that such measures infringe upon personal liberties and pose risks to individuals’ private information.
Efforts to introduce biometric ID cards were famously attempted by former Prime Minister Tony Blair nearly two decades ago in an effort to combat terrorism and fraud, but those plans were ultimately scrapped due to widespread public and parliamentary opposition.
In light of the government's recent policy adjustments, Kevin Hollinrake, chairman of the opposition Conservative Party, remarked that the only consistent element of Labour's approach appears to be retreat. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Lisa Smart sarcastically suggested that Starmer's office must be “bulk-ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate to cope with all their U-turns.”
