Both the U.K.’s right and left-wing political factions have found rare common ground, expressing opposition to Keir Starmer’s newest proposal for compulsory digital identification cards, intended to reduce unlawful immigration.
Unveiled last week with a full implementation target of August 2029, this initiative has reignited a long-standing national discussion regarding the potential for digital IDs to be excessively invasive or genuinely instrumental in tackling .
“You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that,” stated Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, when he introduced the mandatory scheme.
Despite growing apprehension regarding illegal immigration throughout in the U.K., Starmer’s chosen method has encountered considerable resistance.
Jeremy Corbyn, who previously led the Labour Party and became an Independent candidate in 2024, declared his strong opposition to the government’s proposals for mandatory digital identification cards.
“This constitutes an infringement on our civil liberties and will further complicate and endanger the lives of minority groups,” he asserted. “It represents undue government intervention — and demands defiance.”
Corbyn, who recently inaugurated his political movement, “Your Party,” to counter what he termed Labour’s “control freaks,” reiterated criticisms akin to those previously expressed by right-wing figure , founder of Reform UK, established as an alternative to the Conservatives.
Farage, through a post on X, likewise stated his “firm opposition” to the mandatory digital ID cards, contending, “It will not impact illegal immigration, but rather serve to regulate and sanction the general populace.”
“Such extensive power should never reside with the state,” he further remarked.
Although Starmer’s initiative has attracted censure from both left and right factions, albeit for distinct rationales, surveys indicate a change in public sentiment as well.
The Independent had reported that in June, more than half of Britons supported the measure, with fewer than 20% opposed.
However, that endorsement now seems to have undergone a significant change, with almost half of all Britons currently stating their opposition to the initiative, as per the news source.
The digital ID card, accessible via a smartphone, would contain details such as the holder’s name, residency status, birth date, and nationality. British media indicated its initial application would be limited to employment verification, although its purview might broaden.
The plan encounters considerable opposition: over 2.4 million Britons have endorsed a petition on the Parliament’s website against it, as reported by the BBC. Any petition surpassing 100,000 signatures mandates consideration for parliamentary discussion.
No. 10 Downing Street was unavailable for immediate comment.