Labour leader Keir Starmer has endorsed the introduction of digital ID cards, termed “Brit cards,” as a significant opportunity for the UK to enhance border security and tackle illegal migration. Speaking at a conference, Starmer emphasized that strict measures are needed to address public concerns about immigration while promoting the potential benefits of digital IDs for verifying identity to access essential services more efficiently.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy responded to worries about privacy implications, asserting that the government does not intend to create a “dystopian mess.” However, civil liberties groups, including Big Brother Watch, voiced strong opposition, claiming that such IDs would lead to mass surveillance and compromise individual freedoms. Director Silkie Carlo argued that the initiative would do little to address illegal immigration and would instead burden the public with risk and expense.

Critics from other political factions, including Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, dismissed the proposals as a deceptive tactic, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labeled them as ineffective. The government’s plans stem from a Labour Together report suggesting that a digital ID could also help prevent potential immigration crises similar to the Windrush scandal by providing a method to verify immigration status. The proposed ID would utilize tech from existing government services, aiming to streamline processes for both citizens and authorities.



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