Government announces Digital Identity Card scheme

Leaving aside World Wars, the United Kingdom avoided Identity Cards until the enactment of the Identity Cards Act 2006. This spawned numerous statutory Regulations and the cost to public finances was enormous - (in excess of £250 m). Worse still, the cards did not achieve very much.

The Identity Documents Act 2010 repealed the 2006 Act and information held on a National Identity register was destroyed.

The UK's considerable immigration issue was not solved by the previous Conservative Governments (over 14 years) despite the enactment of voluminous legislation.

The Labour government (elected in 2024) is now in the throes of trying to stop irregular immigration such as "small boats" crossing the English Channel. Hence, the recent UK-France Treaty - (ratified 4 August 2025) and the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently at Committee Stage in the House of Lords. 

The latest idea from government is to go back to Identity Cards which, it is claimed, are necessary to prevent illegal working (previous post) and, at least, stem irregular immigration. As ever with government projects, it is likely that the financial costs will be huge.

 

 An important point is that asylum seekers are

already required to have biometric ID - see Gov.UK Application Registration Card. The ARC is a credit card-sized plastic card issued by the Home Office to individuals who claim asylum. It certifies that you are an asylum claimant and can remain in the UK while your claim is pending. 

Whether the British people wish to have identity cards is far from clear. It is very likely that many voters have not considered the possible implications. Also, this is a policy that has not been been voted for.  

The likelihood is that ID requirements will come to be demanded for access to many things and may enable governmental monitoring of the day-to-day activities of every single one of us. Enormous control over the activities of citizens becomes possible. The fundamental relationship between a free people and the government (supposed to serve the people) will be radically altered.  

Full details of the proposed scheme are awaited. The scheme was announced with Parliament in recess for political party conferences. There is, as yet, no Bill before Parliament.

Interestingly, in 2024 the Labour government said that ID cards were not in the party's election manifesto and added: "That’s not our approach." BBC News 7 July 2024 - Labour rejects Blair's call for ID cards. 

Press Release

New Digital ID scheme to be rolled out across the UK - gov.uk 26 September 2025.

'A new digital ID scheme will help combat illegal working while making it easier for the vast majority of people to use vital government services. Digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament.

The scheme will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents, saving time by ending the need for complicated identity checks which often rely on copies of paper records. 

Instead, the roll-out will in time make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare, while streamlining access to tax records. The new digital ID will be held on people’s phones, just as millions already use the NHS App or contactless mobile payments.

There will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it - but digital ID will be mandatory as a means of proving your Right to Work.'

and

'The government will listen to a range of views on how the service will be delivered, as part of a public consultation to be launched later this year.' 

In Wartime - a note

ID cards were introduced in the First World War to aid with conscription and abolished afterwards in 1919. They were reintroduced in September 1939 shortly after the start of the Second World War and were used to help with national service, national security and food rationing. They were abolished in 1952 after criticism of how they were increasingly being used for more general purposes such as law enforcement.

Media etc

Petition - Do not introduce ID Cards

Liberty's Position on Digital ID 

Institute for Government - Digital ID Cards 

New Statesman 25 September 2025 - Why Starmer wants digital ID cards nos 

Addition 17 October 2025

BBC News - Military veterans now able to download digital ID card.

So begins the stealthy introduction of digital ID.