Sir Keir Starmer has defended plans for mandatory digital IDs, insisting they will tackle illegal working and deter migrants from coming to the UK. The Prime Minister announced on Friday that the Government would introduce the new ID system by 2029 for everyone working in the UK.
The digital identification would be required as proof of the right to work as part of efforts to cut illegal immigration. Ministers say there is scope for its use to be widened in future to access public services.
Public opposition mounts
More than two million people have signed a petition opposing the plans, calling them "a step towards mass surveillance and digital control". Labour backbencher Bell Ribeiro-Addy has questioned how the scheme would stop people working in the shadow economy.
The MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill said the backlash shows people do not understand the purpose of the move. She expressed concerns about data privacy and effectiveness.
Starmer defends scheme
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Sir Keir said he was "absolutely convinced" that migrants travel through France to reach the UK because it is easier to work illegally here than in other countries. When challenged that employers willing to hire people illegally will not ask for ID, he responded firmly.
"We must be really clear. You must have ID, mandatory digital ID, in order to work, because we have to stop illegal working," he said. "If you look at any of the raids - we've massively increased the number of raids on working premises - it is absolutely clear that people are working illegally."
The Prime Minister said the scheme would create an "automatic collection" of information so the Government knows who is working and can better enforce existing rules. "People are working illegally in our economy. It is amongst the reasons that people want to come to the United Kingdom, we have to deal with that," he added.
Critics question effectiveness
Ribeiro-Addy argued that existing systems already allow people to prove their right to work. "Migrants already have these biometric ID cards, and actually, what's going to happen? We're going to have this card. We don't know which private company we're going to hand it over to and how much profit they're going to make from this," she said.
She questioned whether the scheme would stop cash-in-hand working. "Those types of people that create that irregular type of work, they're not going to be asking people for their digital ID card," the Labour MP said.
Technical details emerge
The digital ID would be stored on smartphones like contactless payment cards or the NHS app. The Government has said people will not be required to carry it or asked to produce it routinely.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
