Keir Starmer is preparing to introduce digital identification cards, known as “BritCards,” for adults in the United Kingdom as a measure to combat illegal immigration. The Prime Minister is anticipated to officially announce this initiative in a speech scheduled for tomorrow, aiming to facilitate the verification of individuals’ right to reside and work in the country.
Under the proposed system, every adult in the UK would be required to possess a digital ID, which can be stored in a GOV.UK smartphone application. This digital identification would be crucial for individuals when seeking employment or renting accommodation, as it would be cross-referenced against a central database of individuals authorized to live and work in the UK.
The primary objective of introducing this digital ID system is to streamline the process of verifying an individual’s immigration status, thereby deterring illegal work practices within the UK, particularly within delivery services, and cracking down on unscrupulous landlords.
While former Prime Minister Tony Blair has advocated for the implementation of ID cards for a long time, the government had previously dismissed the idea. However, a recent report from the think-tank Labour Together, submitted to No10’s policy unit in the summer, has reignited discussions on the matter.
According to Labour Together, these ID cards would be issued at no cost to all individuals with the legal right to reside and work in the UK. The estimated setup costs for this system range from £140 million to £400 million.
Aside from immigration control, the proposed ID cards could offer additional consumer benefits, such as eliminating the need to carry a passport for collecting deliveries at the Post Office. Moreover, there are considerations to utilize the cards as a valid form of identification for purchasing alcohol.
Keir Starmer is scheduled to address the Global Progress Action Summit in London, where he will be joined by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Earlier in the month, the Prime Minister acknowledged the potential role of an ID card system in preventing illegal migration, noting the evolution of digital identification over the past two decades, which he believes has changed its societal perception.