Keir Starmer Faces Furious Backlash Over Plan To Force Every Brit To Have Digital ID Card

Keir Starmer is facing a wave of opposition to the plan.Keir Starmer is facing a furious backlash after he unveiled plans to make every British citizen carry a digital ID card.The prime minister said the so-called “Brit Cards” would be a vital tool in the government’s attempts to tackle illegal immigration as anyone starting a job would need to have one to prove they have the right to live and work in the UK.Downing Street said it would also make it easier for people to apply for things like driving licences while streamlining access to tax records. But critics from across the political spectrum branded the ID card plan as a “gimmick” which represented a major infringement on people’s civil liberties.Announcing the plan on Friday, Starmer said: “A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands, and this government is listening and delivering.“Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly - rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.“We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain for those who want to see change, not division.”Tony Blair first tried to introduce ID cards when he was prime minister, but had to ditch the policy because of the strength of opposition to it.Posting on X, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was “firmly opposed” to the policy.He said: “It will make no difference to illegal immigration, but it will be used to control and penalise the rest of us. The state should never have this much power.”Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “This announcement is a desperate gimmick that will do nothing to stop the boats.“There are arguments for and against digital ID, but mandating its use would be a very serious step that requires a proper national debate.“Instead, this is a throwaway conference announcement designed to distract attention from Andy Burnham’s leadership manoeuvrings and the crisis in Downing Street over the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.“The government has struggled to enforce its feeble one-in-one-out deal with France, which has turned into 100-in-1-out national embarrassment, can we really trust it to implement an expensive national programme that will impact all of our lives and put additional burdens on law abiding people.”Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I firmly oppose the government’s plans for compulsory digital ID cards.“This is an affront to our civil liberties, and will make the lives of minorities even more difficult and dangerous. It is excessive state interference — and must be resisted.”Related...Keir Starmer Compares Andy Burnham To Liz Truss As Labour War Of Words EscalatesMajor Blow For Starmer As Another Member Of Top No.10 Team Quits5 Issues Keir Starmer Will Be Dreading When He Faces Labour Members At Party Conference

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