Labour exploring plans for ‘Britcard’ digital ID to curb illegal migration

Friday 06 June 2025 8:01 am
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Friday 06 June 2025 8:02 am

Labour is exploring a brand new nationwide, common digital ID card for each grownup within the UK to deal with unlawful migration.

The ID is being tentatively branded as ‘Britcard’, and might be downloaded onto a smartphone within the form of a “free verifier app”. 

Plans for the digital ID had been specified by element by the suppose tank Labour Collectively – the influential suppose tank that catapulted Starmer to the celebration management and was as soon as run by his now-chief of workers, Morgan McSweeney.

The group has touted the plan as a “obligatory, common, nationwide id credential” to pursue what it describes as a “progressive migration technique”. 

Because it stands, Britain is the one nation in Europe with no nationwide ID card system – which has been seen by proponents of the playing cards as a pull issue that pulls extra unlawful migrants into the UK. 

In a 30-page report outlining the plan, Labour Collectively – now led by Jonathan Ashworth, a former shadow cupboard member, who was surprisingly defeated on the Common Election – says that the plan can be comparatively low-cost for a nationwide undertaking.

Report authors stated: “The extra price can be modest relative to different types of infrastructure – we estimate between £140-400m. 

“Making use of internet-era test-and-learn design practices to the event of the BritCard would assist to keep away from the pitfalls confronted by some public sector digital platforms.”

Are IDs now inevitable? 

Former PM Sir Tony Blair tried to place in place obligatory nationwide ID playing cards throughout Labour’s final stint in authorities, however plans had been shelved by the Cameron-Clegg coalition authorities that adopted. 

This proposal is a part of a broader push for Labour to place itself on the entrance foot on the thorny political topic of unlawful migration, with Reform main within the polls and following Tories’ 2024 drubbing in 2024 being partially because of a collapse in belief on this concern. 

EY and the Metropolis of London Company joined the requires digital ID with analysis printed in March.

In accordance with Labour Collectively’s polling, the plan has 80 per cent public assist, however critics of a digital ID system level to the cybersecurity dangers. 

Jasleen Chaggar, from Massive Brother Watch, wrote in Metropolis AM in Might that Labour’s plans can be a “honeypot for hackers and overseas adversaries who have already got a monitor document of attempting to breach authorities databases”.