UK unveils mandatory digital ID cards to tackle illegal work

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — The U.K. government will introduce mandatory digital ID cards by the end of 2029 as Prime Minister Keir Starmer attempts to curb migrants working illegally.

“This government will make a new, free of charge digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament,” he told the Global Progress Action Summit last week.

“Let me spell that out,” he said. “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that.”

Starmer said progressive politicians have been “squeamish” about addressing illegal migration and argued that governments must both protect borders and deliver good jobs and public services.

“The worst thing we could do is to defend the status quo. It hasn’t worked for working people,” Starmer added, claiming the defining choice of our times is between a “politics of predatory grievance, preying on the problems of working people” and “the politics of patriotic renewal, rooted in communities, building a better country.”

How many people work illegally?

There are no official figures on how many people work in the U.K. illegally. Estimates for the number of people living in the U.K. without the right to work range from 120,000 to 1.3 million. Pew Research puts the number between 800,000 and 1.2 million — just over 1% of the U.K. population.

Home Office figures show enforcement is rising. In the six months leading up to January, illegal working visits and arrests rose 38% compared with the year before. Officials carried out 5,424 illegal working visits and made 3,930 arrests. Employers received 1,090 fines of up to 60,000 euros (about $70,500) per illegal worker.

A recent Home Office crackdown targeted delivery drivers working without papers, leading to 280 arrests and 53 asylum applications being reviewed.

In the U.K., people seeking asylum are unable to work in the country until their applications are approved, with the average decision taking around 413 days.

The political reaction

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the policy a “desperate gimmick,” while the Liberal Democrats said it would force people to hand over private data.

Some Labour MPs are also against it. Richard Burgon said: “I will not be supporting this. Tony Blair has been pushing this agenda for more than two decades, always using one excuse or another to justify it. It’s never been fully implemented — and we must make sure it’s stopped this time too.”

New Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: “Keir Starmer says he’s offering us ‘patriotic renewal’ to build our country. But we know the fundamental problem is a tiny few have the wealth and power.”

Civil liberties concerns

Akiko Hart, director of Liberty, said that while there is a greater need for a safe and secure way to prove our identities, the government “can’t be trusted” with personal data after “decades of data scandals and faulty programs.”

“Any trustworthy digital ID system must be designed to make accessing vital services easier, not to shut people out,” she said. “The evidence from countries with established digital ID systems show the current plans in the U.K. could create a host of human rights issues while not reducing irregular migration.”

Hart said safeguards, offline options, and making the system voluntary were key if the government “really wants to get this right.”

Second Labour push for ID cards

ID cards were last proposed under Tony Blair in the late 2000s but scrapped by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2011.

Blair’s plan would have combined a physical card with a national database that stored fingerprints and other personal details.

The scheme faced strong criticism at the time. Civil rights groups said it threatened privacy, while opposition parties attacked the cost, which was projected between $14 and $25 billion.

Across Europe, many countries use ID cards. Fifteen make them compulsory, while 11 run voluntary schemes. The European Union is building a digital identity wallet, eID, that will give EU citizens access to public and private services. It is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026.

Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP for Greater Manchester, defended the policy: “No one is claiming digital ID alone will solve immigration. It’s one part of a broader strategy alongside tougher border enforcement, deportations, and cracking down on illegal working.”

He continued: “Digital ID helps stop fraud, makes it harder to use fake documents, and protects public services. It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a practical tool to fix a system that’s being exploited.”

Public opinion

Following the announcement, a YouGov poll found 42% support for digital ID cards, with 45% opposed.

Digital ID cards were not included in Labour’s election manifesto last year, which sets out party policies during a general election campaign.

Terry from Hertfordshire said: “I already have a passport, a driving license and an NHS number, plus a Costco card. I think that’s enough!”

“We don’t need them,” said Bernadette from Leicester. “We have passports and a national insurance number allotted at birth. At what point is enough enough?”

A petition opposing digital ID cards has already gained 2.6 million signatures. Petitions with more than 100,000 signatures must be considered for debate in parliament.

Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.

Follow @jayfranklinlive