LONDON — Keir Starmer on Friday unveiled plans to roll out government-issued digital ID across the U.K.  

His initial pitch is clear: digital ID will help combat illegal working and curb one of the “pull factors” driving unauthorized migration to the U.K.  

“You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” Starmer said in a speech on Friday morning. 

This emphasis on tackling illegal work echoes proposals for a so-called “BritCard” laid out by influential think tank Labour Together in June. The paper was co-authored by Kirsty Innes, now a special advisor to new Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.  

Historically the idea of introducing national ID in the U.K. has proven politically difficult. A pilot scheme launched by Tony Blair’s government was scrapped by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the idea a “desperate gimmick that will do nothing to stop the boats.” A Reform UK spokesperson said that digital ID would have little effect on illegal working, and that all it would do is “impinge further on the freedoms of law-abiding Brits.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the plan would do “next to nothing to tackle channel crossings,” and that the Lib Dems will “fight against it tooth and nail — just as we successfully did against Tony Blair’s ID cards.”

But the devil is in the details, many of which the government is yet to clarify.  

What we know

All U.K. citizens and legal residents will need to produce digital ID to prove their Right to Work by the end of this Parliament (which means August 2029 at the very latest). The ID will sit on people’s phones, similar to a contactless card. 

Like an eVisa or passport, the ID will include a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and photo. Subject to forthcoming consultation — timeline TBD — other details, such as address, could also be added to the mix.  

The government said there will be “no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it.” But given it will be mandatory for anyone wanting to work in the U.K., it will be something millions of people will need to sign up for if they want to make a living. 

While curbing illegal migration is the focus for now, the government has also said that “in time” digital ID will “make it simpler to apply for services like driving licenses, childcare and welfare, while streamlining access to tax records.” 

The government also said the ID “will be available to use” for proving identity when voting in elections, and that it could also be used by private sector organizations, e.g. when setting up a bank account.

The government has said the consultation would consider how digital ID would work for people who don’t have a smartphone. 

What we don’t know

In short, quite a lot.  

The credentials will be government-issued and stored directly on people’s phones, but it’s unclear whether the system itself is to be developed in-house — as with the Government Digital Service’s OneLogin — or outsourced to the private sector.  

We also don’t have much detail on the government’s plans to eventually make the digital ID a way of accessing welfare services, or which welfare services might be included. There’s no timeline on that part of the plan. 

The Tony Blair Institute, another influential think tank, has pushed for a more holistic application of digital IDs. In a statement following Starmer’s speech, TBI Director of Government Innovation Policy Alexander Iosad said digital ID can “do so much more for our citizens” than just combat illegal migration. 

“Imagine being pre-approved and notified about the services, benefits or tax breaks you’re entitled to, no more lengthy forms, no waiting, no more backdating. Issues in your community reported at a tap and tracking progress on those reports with complete transparency,” said Iosad. It’s not clear whether the government will pursue a TBI model for digital ID in time. 

It’s also unclear whether physical documents would remain valid proof of identity. Migrant rights campaigners have long protested the Home Office’s transition to digital-only immigration status on grounds of inclusivity and reliability.