Downing Street is reviewing a proposal to introduce digital ID cards in the UK – a move aimed at tightening immigration enforcement and streamlining welfare checks.
According to The Times, senior advisers at No. 10 are examining the development of a smartphone-based “BritCard” that would digitally verify an individual’s right to live and work in the country.
Downing Street Considers ‘BritCard’ Digital ID Cards for UK Adults
The proposed digital ID card system would integrate with government databases and could be used to monitor benefit claims and prevent welfare fraud.
The proposal comes amid continued efforts to address the small boats crisis and growing concern over illegal migration routes into Britain. Supporters argue the digital ID cards UK plan would act as a deterrent, demonstrating that the country is no longer a “soft touch” for unlawful migration.
The idea, once championed by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, failed to progress following his departure from office. However, it has resurfaced through a paper by the think tank Labour Together, whose founders include No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
Labour MPs Back Revival of ID Scheme
The paper has already gained backing from several Labour MPs, including “red wall” representatives Jake Richards (Rother Valley) and Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme), who have endorsed the new proposal.
In their foreword, the MPs argued that the BritCard could play a pivotal role in Labour’s approach to enforcement without compromising fairness or values.
“The BritCard should form an important part of Labour’s enforcement strategy that does not compromise our principles and values,” they said.
They added that irregular migrants are often preyed upon by rogue employers, contributing to wage suppression across the labour market.
The think tank’s report found that digital ID cards UK would simplify right-to-work and right-to-rent checks for businesses and landlords. It estimated the cost of building the system at around £400 million, with annual upkeep running to £10 million. The BritCard would function as a free-to-use mobile application.
“Those living in the UK without regular status are exploited by criminal employers, which in turn suppresses wages for legal citizens and migrants alike,” the MPs stated.
The report also criticises past immigration policies, particularly the coalition government’s “hostile environment” strategy, arguing it failed to significantly reduce migrant numbers while causing undue harm to lawful residents.
“The Windrush scandal saw thousands of people wrongly targeted by immigration enforcement, including many legitimate British citizens who were unjustly detained or deported.
We believe that a progressive government does not have to choose between dealing with these injustices. It must tackle them all head-on,” the report added.
What Britons Need to Know
Here’s what the proposed digital ID cards UK could mean:
- Enhanced security: Digital verification would help combat illegal employment.
- Welfare monitoring: Real-time checks could help reduce fraud.
- Simplified processes: Faster rental and employment screening.
- Human rights safeguards: The scheme pledges not to repeat past injustices like Windrush.
As Britain debates how to balance enforcement with ethics, the BritCard could become a symbol of both technological progress and social responsibility.
With government interest reignited, the digital ID cards UK initiative might soon return to the forefront of political discourse.
