Labour explores compulsory ID cards to curb illegal migration

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/06/labour-compulsory-id-cards-tackle-illegal-immigration/

Posted by 1-randomonium

29 comments

  1. (Article)

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    Labour is examining proposals for a compulsory digital ID card for every adult in Britain to help tackle illegal immigration.

    A think tank previously headed by Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, has put forward the proposal, which is being considered by No 10.

    In a policy paper, Labour Together argues that the new BritCard – downloaded to phones free of charge – would help crack down on illegal migration and provide the public with a “one-stop shop” for government services such as passports or benefits without the need for further identity checks.

    Britain is the only country in Europe without an ID card system, which critics claim has allowed a black market in jobs to flourish, making it attractive to illegal migrants.

    The last Labour government attempted to introduce ID cards, with the first issued in 2009, but the scheme was scrapped by the incoming Tory-led coalition on the basis that it was an “erosion of civil liberties”.
    Sir Tony Blair and Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary who first put forward the idea, have remained strong advocates of compulsory ID cards as a simple, effective way to tackle illegal migration.

    **Digital identity must be ‘top PM priority’**

    In its report, published on Friday, Labour Together urged Sir Keir to make digital identity a “top prime ministerial priority” and begin a “fundamental transformation in the way British citizens interact with the government”.

    It said the BritCard should initially be rolled out for right-to-rent and right-to-work checks. It estimated it would cost as little as £140 million to build, and between £5 million and £10 million per year to administer.

    The app would automatically check a person’s right to work against government records. The system would be able to cross-reference the stored identity against company tax records to identify firms with workers who had not undergone checks.

    At present, employers and landlords are expected to check identity through one of 15 documents, many of which can be easily forged. A typical employer will have the Home Office check that they apply such checks once every 150 years.

    The report cited polling showing that 80 per cent of the public supported the introduction of digital right-to-work credentials. Almost a third thought it would deter people from coming to the UK illegally to work.

    Cabinet ministers believed to be interested in the plan are Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, and Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, who believes it could transform the way in which public services are delivered.

    **ID cards versus e-visas**

    Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary – who was a minister when the last Labour government sought to introduce ID cards – is understood to be sceptical about a compulsory ID card for all adults but is a strong advocate of e-visas for anyone coming to the UK.

    Some four million have so far been issued, enabling UK authorities to check when a migrant has entered the UK and when they should leave, thereby establishing if they should be removed.

    “We want to ensure e-visas can effectively be used as a way of having that digital ID around the ability to work, to be here lawfully,” she told the home affairs select committee this week.

    Labour Together said: “Under the current system, enforcement for right to work and right to rent checks is looking for a needle in a haystack of 2 million employers and 2.8 million landlords. BritCard would shrink this haystack.
    “It would support better enforcement of migration rules, making it harder for rogue landlords and employers, and those who don’t have the right to be here.

    “For vulnerable British citizens, it would provide a quick and easy solution to avoid being wrongly denied their rights, and a repeat of scandals like Windrush.”

    **‘Absolutely something we’re looking at’**

    Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, said ministers “know we need to look at all the actions we can take” to reduce illegal migration.

    Speaking to Times Radio on Friday morning, he said: “It’s absolutely something that we are looking at, and that we should be looking at.”

    He added: “We know we need to look at all the actions we can take to stop the levels of illegal migration that we were seeing particularly under the last government.

    “We have to stop the number of people that we’ve seen who don’t have a right to come here.”

    Asked whether he thought digital IDs should be mandatory, Mr Reed told the same station: “There’s a discussion going on and I’m happy to take part in that discussion as well.

    “I think it’s absolutely right that we should be looking at this, it’s something that’s been talked about for quite a while, the Government referenced it in a white paper, but now there will be a more detailed conversation.”

  2. So a compulsory version of the post office EasyID. They really want us to have IDs don’t they. I wonder if the police will be able to stop us and demand we produce it.

  3. this idea never dies, it needs whoever in the home office keeps pushing it chasing out of the country

    the issue is never the card, its the database and every jobsworth out there getting the power to demand it

  4. Honestly just fuck it and introduce it. ID is basically mandatory nowadays anyway since you need it to vote.

    It’s not a problem in the EU and realistically it’s not going to be a problem introducing it here either.

    The reason the UK has bigger problems than the EU with illegal workers is precisely because we don’t have compulsory ID. No idea why the idea gets people into such a tizzy, there used to be a privacy argument but since the advent of the internet the government knows what you have for breakfast every morning anyway, it’s rather nonsensical when critical thought is applied.

  6. We already know who is here illegally and apparently we can’t deport them for love nor money so what fucking difference will an id card make. Nothing. It’s about dangling a carrot to make people accept if cards.

  7. So their proposed solution to reducing the number of people entering the country illegally is to more closely track and monitor those who are here legally?

  8. I do love how ID cards unite the leftie Corbynites and the Gebeebies lovers.. weirdly though, it would actually help reduce illegal immigration, and yet you’re all against it because what? It’s an invasion of your privacy?

    Do you have a passport? A driving licence? A rail card? All of these forms of ID could be unified under it.

    <sigh>

  9. Being anti-ID card is a great litmus test for whether someone’s opinions are worth listening to. Anyone who is anti-ID card, I immediately disregard their opinions for the rest of time.

  11. As one of the immigrants, we are already asked to show our employers/landlords the right to live/work to get hired a job and rented a place. If these aren’t enough, I don’t see how the introduction of an ID card would change anything.

  12. My only issue with a UK government mandated ID card is the UK government will find a way of buggering up it.

  13. I never really got the argument against this?

    I live in Japan, when I came here I was given a Residency Card which is essentially just proof I’m a legal immigrant. I have to keep it on me at all times and have to show it to the police if they ask for it.

    In addition to that most Japanese citizens (immigrant and national) have a “My Number” card which is essentially just an ID card with your ID number, DOB, name and photo on it. It’s all info that *slready exists* on a database somewhere but is just put on an ID card and is a time saver if you need to go to town hall and fill out visa stuff.

  14. Can’t wait to have to show my ID card to piss in a train station toilet

    Bonus points if I get charged a fiver for the privilege

  15. Just tighten up employment laws… turn off the magnet

  16. The Rumour around some of the presspool’s, is that they are looking to track reform voters, so that Labour can target them more effectively. Mcsweeney’s brain child apparently, selling as a idea to stop immigration, will get them onboard, and they are probably dumb enough to fall for it.

  17. Absolutely provide a free government issued ID, stops people being blocked from voting, helps people with no money applying for support or help from the council when you don’t have to buy new IDs and will shut people up about illegal people taking jobs because they won’t be able to with the cards

  19. No ID card? No problem, let’s get you a phone and a hotel to stay at, as well as a nice little Deliveroo job.

  20. A requirement to carry ID and to register your address with the local authorities does work to curb illegal immigration in other European countries. If you have to show ID upon request to the police, to any government office, when buying a car, when getting a mobile phone, when starting a job, when opening a bank account, when renting or buying a home, when starting a utilities contract,…. it makes life without ID intolerable and effectively, impossible.

    Obviously, for this to work, there must a legal requirement for all adults to have up to date ID and to produce it upon request.

  22. An utterly standard, basic thing that exists in most first world countries. A lot of British people are bizarrely against it for no logical reason. Just push it through already.

  23. It was this shit that got them out of government last time.

  24. We could start by scanning passports and visas on exit so we know who actually leaves when their visa expires. Absolute madness we don’t do exit scanning

  25. I was under the distinct impression that my grandparents fought a rather long and bloody war so that I would not have to present my papers when arbitrarily demanded by a state authority.

  27. Didn’t seem to recall people being fine with this idea when Johnson proposed it lmao

    I hate the tories as much as anyone else, but this ID card is hardly any different to what Johnson tried to do

  28. Tony Blair suggested a “service entitlement” card decades ago. The Tories and most of his own party completely lost their minds over the idea. I never really understood the controversy. Most people already have a passport and/or a driving licence. Why is a card proving you have a legal right to be here and use (for example) the NHS so different?

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