The prime minister is expected to announce on Friday a plan to introduce a new digital ID card for every working adult in Britain, aimed at cracking down on illegal migration.
The digital ID called the “Brit card” would verify a person’s right to live and work in the UK.
According to local reports, the card will be linked to a central database, cross-referenced with tax and payroll records, allowing employers and landlords to confirm the status of their employees or tenants and prevent fraud.
Details on enforcement and penalties have not yet been released. The government is expected to hold a consultation on the scheme’s practicalities, including provisions for those without a smartphone, before implementing the plan.
Plans for a digital ID scheme were not included in Labour’s election manifesto last year, and the government had previously rejected a similar proposal from former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair. However, ministers have recently spoken more enthusiastically about the idea amid rising pressure to tackle illegal migration.
While some have expressed support, opposition leaders and civil liberties groups warn the scheme could centralize sensitive data and leave residents vulnerable to outages, errors, or surveillance.
