The UK government has announced that a new digital ID will be mandatory for employment as part of efforts to combat illegal migration.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the scheme will make it harder to work illegally in the UK while offering “countless benefits” to citizens. Senior minister Darren Jones described it as potentially “the bedrock of the modern state,” enabling future public service reforms.
However, opposition parties have criticised the plan, arguing it would not stop people crossing the Channel in small boats. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned the scheme could be misused against law-abiding citizens, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pledged to fight it, claiming it adds bureaucracy and costs without tackling illegal migration. Campaign groups including Liberty and Big Brother Watch have also raised concerns about mass surveillance and threats to civil liberties.
Starmer set out the plan during a speech at the Global Progressive Action Conference in London, stressing that illegal work undermines fair wages and that every nation needs control over its borders. The government has highlighted that the scheme could simplify access to public services such as driving licenses, childcare, welfare, and tax records.
The digital ID, expected to be stored on smartphones, will include a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and photo, with consultation underway to determine if additional details, such as an address, should be included. The scheme will not require people to carry the ID physically but will be mandatory for proving the right to work in the UK by the end of the current Parliament, expected by 2029.
The consultation will also address how the system can support people without smartphones and will last three months, with legislation expected in Parliament early next year.
Reactions from the public are mixed. Some young people see practical benefits, such as convenience for nights out, while others express concerns over data security and accessibility, especially for vulnerable groups like the homeless.
Former Labour Home Secretary Lord Blunkett argued the reforms do not go far enough, saying they lack a clear rationale and coherent explanation of benefits. Meanwhile, the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments have opposed the proposal, with First Minister Michelle O’Neill calling it an “attack” on existing rights under the Good Friday Agreement.
The government maintains that the digital ID will provide a consistent and secure way to verify workers’ identities, reduce the use of fake documents, and support a modern, digitised public service infrastructure.
