British PM Keir Starmer to unveil digital IDs for all adults: All you need to know | World News

Brit card would verify the right to live and work in the UK. (Photo: Unsplash)

Soon, all adults in the United Kingdom may have a mandatory digital ID as part of the government’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration to the country. Prime Miner Keir Starmer is expected to make the announcement on Friday, according to British media reports.

The digital ID, which some have called a Brit card, would verify a citizen’s right to live and work in the UK. The mandatory government-issued digital identity card will be issued for every adult in the UK, including citizens and those on visas.
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What will ‘Brit card’ be used for

Once rolled out, anyone starting a new job in the UK will have to show their Brit card, which will then be checked against a central database of those entitled legally to work in the country.

The government argues that the new digital ID will help in cracking down on illegal immigration and those overstaying their visas.

According to The Guardian, PM Starmer said this month that digital IDs could “play an important part” in making Britain less attractive to illegal migrants, and France has repeatedly claimed that the lack of official cards acts as a “pull factor”.

In July, Labour peer Harriet Harman told Sky News that the black economy and ID cards would “make it more difficult for people to work illegally”.

While there are no official details of the digital ID, according to Metro, initial mockups showed the document would show whether the holder has the right to work or rent. Their driving licence would also be on the app, with hopes that the app could be used to order a passport, access NHS services or display your National Insurance number.

Starmer said this month that digital IDs could “play an important part” in making Britain less attractive to illegal migrants. (Photo: Labour Together)

Tony Blair proposed digital ID in 2006

Digital ID is not a new concept in the UK and former Labour Prime Miner Tony Blair had tried to introduce compulsory ID cards in 2006 after the September 11 and 7/7 bombings, only for it to be scrapped.

It was renewed recently the Starmer government, and the think-tank Labour Together said the digital ID would help reduce vast numbers of visa overstayers. It also pointed out that half of those whose asylum claims were turned down over the past 14 years were probably still in the UK.

According to Labour Together, it would cost £400 million to build the e-ID system and £10 million to run the free-to-use phone app.