Britain plans new digital ID scheme to curb illegal migration

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday announced plans for a new nationwide digital ID in a bid to curb illegal migration, but the move faces strong opposition in a country that has long resisted identity cards.

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The new digital ID will be held on people's phones and there will be no requirement for individuals to carry or be asked to produce it, the government said. However, it will be “mandatory as a means of proving your right to work,” a statement said.

“Let me spell it out, you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” Starmer said during a speech on Friday.

“It's as simple as that, because decent, pragmatic, fair-minded people, they want us to tackle the issues that they see around them.”