UK Prime Minister Starmer Announces Mandatory Digital ID to Curb Illegal Migration

UK Prime Minister Starmer Announces Mandatory Digital ID to Curb Illegal Migration
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday announced plans to introduce a free digital ID for all UK nationals and residents, positioning the initiative as a dual solution to streamline public services and combat illegal migration, Arab News reported.

The new digital identity will be held on citizens’ smartphones and is designed to simplify access to services like driving licenses, childcare, welfare, and tax records. However, the government stated it will be “mandatory as a means of proving your right to work.”

The key driver behind the policy, according to the government, is to “stop those with no right to be here from being able to find work,” thereby curbing the “pull factors” that attract illegal migrants to the UK.

Speaking ahead of the Labour Party’s annual conference, Starmer championed the plan, stating, “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK… it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits.”

The proposal marks a significant policy shift for the UK, which has traditionally resisted national identity cards, though recent polling suggests growing public support for the move.