The UK is preparing to roll out a new digital identity system that will eventually be required for anyone who wants to work in the country. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the move as part of a broader plan to clamp down on illegal migration and tighten border controls.
Starmer’s Vision for Digital ID
Speaking at the Global Progressive Action Conference in London, Starmer argued that too many people have been able to work in the UK illegally because politicians had been reluctant to face the issue head-on. He described the scheme as a tool not only for stronger border security but also as a way to bring “countless benefits” for ordinary citizens.
The digital ID would allow people to prove their right to work instantly through their phone, similar to how contactless payments or the NHS app currently work. It would include basic details such as a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photo. The government has said it may also explore whether information like an address should be added.
Benefits and Concerns – Digital ID
Starmer’s team believes the new system will make it harder for fake documents to slip through and give employers a clearer, more reliable way of checking identities. Officials also see opportunities to expand its use, eventually making it easier to access services like driving licenses, welfare, childcare, and tax records.
Darren Jones, one of Starmer’s senior ministers, described the idea as “the bedrock of the modern state” and said it could unlock major reforms in public services.
But not everyone is convinced. Opposition leaders and campaign groups have warned of risks to privacy, civil liberties, and data security. Critics argue that storing so much personal information in a centralised digital hub could make citizens more vulnerable to misuse or hacking.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the plan as ineffective, saying it would not stop people crossing the Channel and could ultimately end up targeting law-abiding citizens more than criminals. The Liberal Democrats pledged to fight against the scheme altogether, while civil rights organisations like Liberty and Big Brother Watch called it a step towards mass surveillance.
A Divisive History
This is not the first time a UK government has attempted to introduce compulsory ID. Tony Blair’s Labour government made a similar push two decades ago, but the idea was scrapped by the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010. Starmer, however, believes attitudes have shifted, pointing out that most people now carry multiple forms of digital identity already.
Despite Labour’s confidence in public support, more than a million people have signed a petition against the proposal. Scotland’s devolved government has also said it opposes any form of compulsory ID, physical or digital, while Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill criticised the plan as “ill thought-out” and harmful to the rights of Irish citizens under the Good Friday Agreement.
What Young People Think
BBC Newsbeat gathered views from younger generations, and the reactions were mixed. Some see the convenience—no more scrambling for utility bills or forgetting an ID on a night out—while others fear data breaches and government overreach.
Arianwen Fox-James, 20, admitted there could be practical benefits but said she worried about all personal information being stored in one system. Amy, 22, liked the idea of always having ID on her phone but also questioned how secure it would be. Meanwhile, Emlyn Jenkins, 23, rejected the proposal outright, calling it “fascistic and horrible.”
The Road Ahead
The government plans to launch a public consultation later this year to determine how the scheme will work in practice, particularly for people who do not have smartphones or reliable internet access. The consultation is expected to run for three months, with legislation introduced to Parliament early next year.
If the plan proceeds as outlined, digital ID will become mandatory for proving the right to work by the end of this Parliament—no later than 2029. While the government stresses that citizens will not need to carry ID cards or show them on demand, the debate over privacy, freedom, and security is likely to intensify in the years ahead.