26th September 2025, Kathmandu
In a major policy move that could reshape how citizens interact with the state, United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce plans for a nationwide digital identity scheme on Friday.
United Kingdom Mandatory Digital ID Cards
Senior government sources say the proposal, which would make digital identification mandatory for all UK residents, is aimed at tackling illegal working, tightening border security, and modernising public services.
More than two decades have passed since Tony Blair’s Labour government first floated the idea of a national ID card system—a proposal designed to address growing concerns about illegal immigration, unlawful employment, and the need to simplify public access to government services. Back in the early 2000s, this plan ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum, eventually becoming one of New Labour’s most contentious policies.
Ministers believe that what was politically toxic twenty years ago may now meet less resistance, especially as younger generations—raised in an era of biometric passports and contactless payments—view digital identity as a convenience rather than a threat.
The scheme would represent the most significant reform to personal identity verification in Britain for decades. According to officials, it could mark the transition from a system reliant on paper documents and passports to a fully digital infrastructure, linking identity verification to a centralised database maintained by the government.
Rationale Behind the Digital ID Scheme
The government argues that the current system for verifying individuals’ right to work and live in the UK is outdated and vulnerable to abuse. Employers are legally required to check candidates’ immigration status, but enforcement depends heavily on paper-based documents that can be forged or manipulated.
Supporters of the digital ID scheme say that a secure, state-issued identity system could:
Strengthen immigration controls by making it harder for undocumented workers to access jobs or services illegally.
Enhance efficiency by streamlining access to public services, such as healthcare, benefits, and even voting systems.
Reduce fraud by ensuring that individuals are who they claim to be in both the public and private sectors.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, a key advocate of the plan, recently visited Estonia—widely regarded as the global leader in digital governance. Estonia’s e-ID system enables citizens to securely access over 99% of public services online, including healthcare records, tax filing, and even elections.
McFadden has suggested that a UK digital ID could unlock similar efficiencies, describing the potential reforms as “a modernisation of the state that is long overdue.”
Practical Challenges and Consultation Process
Despite government enthusiasm, key details remain unresolved. A public consultation will be launched to address questions over:
Accessibility: How will the system work for people without smartphones, passports, or regular internet access?
Data security: How will the government prevent hacking, identity theft, or surveillance overreach?
Legal safeguards: Will there be limits on how identity data can be shared between departments or law enforcement agencies?
Officials have also indicated that the rollout would be gradual, potentially building on existing systems such as the Home Office’s eVisa platform, which has already replaced physical residence permits for many foreign nationals.
Digital Exclusion and Security Issues
Critics warn that digital ID cards risk worsening the problem of digital exclusion. Age UK estimates that 1.7 million people over 74 do not use the internet at all, while many others lack the skills or resources to navigate complex digital systems. For these groups, a mandatory digital ID could feel less like empowerment and more like enforced marginalization.
Civil liberties campaigners such as Liberty and Big Brother Watch warn that even voluntary digital ID schemes could morph into mandatory systems requiring citizens to surrender vast troves of personal data to the state. Centralized databases, they argue, risk enabling unprecedented levels of surveillance, shifting the balance of power dramatically toward government authorities with “dangerous implications for security, rights, and freedoms.”
Cybersecurity experts echo these concerns, noting that large-scale data systems inevitably attract hackers. Recent cyberattacks on organizations ranging from Jaguar Land Rover to the British Library highlight the vulnerabilities of critical UK infrastructure. If a national ID database were breached, the fallout could be catastrophic—financially, socially, and politically.
Some suggest that decentralized data storage could mitigate these risks, but the government has yet to clarify whether such safeguards would be built into its plans.
Cost Implications
The Tony Blair Institute claims the scheme would cost around £1 billion to establish and £100 million annually to maintain. Independent bodies disagree. The Association of Digital Verification Providers projects a price tag exceeding £2 billion for a full, mandatory system, while the Labour Together think tank’s alternative “BritCard” proposal carries estimates ranging from £140 million to £400 million upfront, plus up to £10 million per year in running costs.
Officials insist that this time will be different. Instead of relying on expensive mega-contracts with tech giants like IBM or Fujitsu—firms often blamed for past public-sector IT failures—the government suggests it could develop the system in-house, using the Government Digital Service and smaller UK-based firms to keep costs under control.
Political Reactions and Divisions
The announcement has sparked fierce debate across the political spectrum.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the plan as a “desperate gimmick”, accusing the government of trying to distract from internal Labour Party disputes ahead of its annual conference. She warned that such a major reform required “proper national debate” before implementation.
Reform UK dismissed the policy as “a cynical ploy”, arguing that illegal immigrants would not voluntarily comply and warning of further restrictions on civil liberties.
The Liberal Democrats, who famously blocked the previous Labour government’s ID card plans in 2010, said they remain opposed to any compulsory scheme. “People shouldn’t be criminalised simply for not having or wanting a digital ID,” said Liberal Democrat technology spokesperson Victoria Collins.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, preparing to launch a new left-wing party, branded the proposal “an affront to our civil liberties,” echoing concerns raised by privacy groups such as the Open Rights Group.
Critics argue that the digital ID risks creating what they call a “surveillance society,” with citizens forced to continually prove their identity in daily life.
Shifting Public Opinion
Despite the political backlash, Starmer believes public attitudes toward digital identification have evolved since Labour’s failed attempt to introduce ID cards in the mid-2000s.
Speaking earlier this month, the prime minister said:
“We all carry far more digital ID now than we did 20 years ago—our phones, our banking apps, our online accounts. Psychologically, I think the debate has moved on.”
The government is expected to outline its formal proposal on Friday, triggering months of public consultation, parliamentary debate, and potential pilot schemes before any legislation is introduced.
If approved, the UK could join a growing list of countries adopting national digital identity systems, following examples set by countries in the European Union.