British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce a landmark plan as early as Friday for a mandatory, UK-wide digital identity scheme for all adults, a major policy shift aimed primarily at tackling illegal working and modernizing the state.

The initiative, quickly dubbed the ‘Brit Card’ by some, represents the government’s renewed commitment to a concept famously scrapped by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010. Senior government figures suggest the scheme is considered a vital tool in combatting illegal migration and the “pull factors” that draw individuals to work in the black economy.

The Mechanics of the ‘Brit Card’

Under the proposed scheme, which will be subject to a public consultation and require new legislation, every adult in Britain would be issued with a secure digital ID, likely accessed via a smartphone app.

Key proposed uses include:

Right to Work/Rent Verification: Individuals starting a new job or entering a rental agreement would be required to use the digital ID to instantly verify their right to live and work in the UK. This digital verification would be checked against a central government database of entitlements.
Reduced Fraud: Proponents argue that the digital card would be more secure and less susceptible to forgery than existing physical documents, thereby reducing identity fraud and abuse of public services.
Public Service Access: Beyond enforcement, the digital ID is intended to simplify access to a range of public services, building on systems like the NHS app.

Political & Privacy Storm Brews

The announcement has immediately reignited a decades-old political firestorm surrounding civil liberties, data privacy, and the role of the state.

Civil Liberties Concerns: Privacy and rights groups, including Big Brother Watch, have issued urgent warnings, arguing that a mandatory digital ID risks shifting the “balance of power towards the state” and exposing the entire population to “catastrophic” data breaches. A petition against compulsory digital ID has quickly surpassed 100,000 signatures.

Opposition and Scrutiny: While the government insists the debate has “moved on” since the last attempt to introduce ID cards, the plans are expected to face stiff opposition. Former Conservative MP Sir David Davis warned the introduction of a compulsory scheme could be “profoundly dangerous to the fundamental freedoms” of British people, expressing little faith in Whitehall’s ability to protect the vast amounts of personal data involved.

Consultation Promised: Officials confirmed the plan would be subject to a thorough consultation, specifically addressing how to ensure accessibility for those without smartphones, passports, or reliable internet access—a key hurdle for a universal digital system.

The Prime Minister is expected to elaborate on the details of the digital ID, positioning it as a modern, technology-led solution to one of the country’s most pressing political challenges.