The Government is set to introduce new digital ID cards in a bid to tackle illegal migration.
The announcement will be made by Sir Keir Starmer during a speech on Friday, it is understood.
The so-called Brit-Card will be subject to consultation and thought to require legislation. The scheme will allow the verification of a citizen’s right to live and work in the UK.
It’s not Whitehall dictating what’s going to be done, it’s people with skin in the game. pic.twitter.com/CQc2Z3E6aL
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 25, 2025
Why does Sir Keir Starmer want to introduce digital IDs?
It's understood that the digital IDs follow calls from French President Emmanuel Macron for the UK to reduce “pull factors” for migrants to come to the UK.
A total of 1157 people have arrived on small boats in the last week, according to Home Office statistics.
Starmer is due to speak at the Global Progress Action Summit in London alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister said an ID card system could play an “important part” in stopping illegal migration.
He said things had “moved on” since the debate over ID cards during the last Labour government in the 2000s.
He had told the BBC: “We all carry a lot more digital ID now than we did 20 years ago, and I think that, psychologically, it plays a different part.”
Former PM Tony Blair has long been in favour of digital ID cards, but the Labour Government actually previously rejected his proposals. Ministers have now decided to U-turn.
The Brit-Card policy was also floated by think tank Labour Together, an ally of the Prime Minister.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also previously been positive about the policy.
