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Keir Starmer digital ID: Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday unveiled plans for a mandatory digital identification system for all British citizens and legal residents seeking employment in the UK. The government says the scheme is aimed at curbing illegal migration and shadow economy jobs, while also making it easier for people to access public services.

No ID, No Work: PM Starmer

Addressing the Global Progress Action Summit in London, attended by leaders including Canada’s Mark Carney and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, Starmer said the new system will come into effect before the next general election, due by 2029. “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have a digital ID. It’s as simple as that,” Starmer declared, adding that Britain needed to “look itself in the mirror” and accept that controlling borders was essential.

He stressed that the measure was not about carrying ID cards on the street but ensuring that only those with the right to live and work in the country could find employment.

What Will The Digital ID Include?

The government confirmed the new digital ID will be free and stored on people’s smartphones in a format similar to the NHS app or contactless payment cards. Citizens without smartphones will be provided alternatives.

It will include:
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Nationality or residency status
• Photograph (for biometric security)
• Potentially, address details (subject to consultation)

Officials said the system will use advanced encryption and allow instant revocation if a phone is lost or stolen.

Reviving A Controversial Idea

Britain has not had compulsory identity cards since World War II, and past attempts to revive them have sparked fierce debates over civil liberties. Former prime minister Tony Blair’s plan for biometric ID cards in the early 2000s was scrapped after strong public opposition.

Civil rights groups argue such systems infringe privacy, while supporters say a modern digital ID could simplify everyday checks already required for healthcare, banking and jobs.

The announcement has triggered criticism across the political spectrum. The Conservatives warned the plan would add “red tape” for law-abiding citizens and businesses. The Liberal Democrats said it would increase bureaucracy “while doing little to stop channel crossings.” Reform UK dismissed it as a “cynical ploy.”

Scotland’s SNP-led government has also voiced opposition, while Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill called the proposal “ill-thought-out” and a threat to the Good Friday Agreement.

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Starmer’s Labour government has faced pressure to stem record migration flows, with more than 50,000 migrants crossing the Channel since coming to power. Ministers argue the new system will cut off one of the biggest “pull factors” for illegal migration: access to jobs in the shadow economy.“This sends a clear message—if you come here illegally, you cannot work,” Starmer said.

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A three-month public consultation will be launched later this year to finalise details, with legislation expected in Parliament in early 2026. The roll-out, the government says, will also streamline access to tax records, childcare, welfare, and driving licences, making digital ID a cornerstone of modern governance.