ID cards face growing opposition

PLAN BRANDED 'CYNICAL PLOY TO FOOL VOTERS'

- By Martyn Brown Political Editor

SIR KEIR Starmer’s political gamble on ID cards looked to be unravelling last night amid a growing backlash.

Some Labour MPs have already vowed a revolt against the plan, which is opposed by rival parties.

Meanwhile, the PM was forced to clear up confusion over whether the digital scheme would be compulsory after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy suggested they “will not be mandatory for people to use it...it will be entirely their choice”.

The smartphone-based cards will be mandatory for work in the UK and are expected to be required for checks by the end of this Parliament in 2029.

Sir Keir has said they will be free, but has not revealed how the scheme, costing taxpayers billions of pounds to set up and administer, will be paid for.

Critics called his plan a “cynical ploy” to fool voters that something is being done about immigration.

Sir Keir confirmed the plans at a “global progress” summit in London yesterday, insisting it was an opportunity to get to grips with the problem. He and Canadian PM Mark Carney also exchanged rugby shirts, before England play Mr Carney’s nation in the Women’s World Cup final today.

Squeamish

More than 50,000 illegal migrants have arrived in the UK on small boats since Sir Keir entered No 10 last year.

He admitted to the summit Labour was “squeamish” about talking about the problem's scale, adding: “For too many years, it’s been too easy for people to come here, slip into the shadow economy and remain here illegally.