The UK government is reportedly exploring the implementation of a mandatory digital identity system for all adults residing in the country, encompassing both citizens and individuals holding visas. This proposed system, sometimes referred to as a “Brit card,” is intended to verify an individual’s legal right to live and work within the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated that digital IDs could serve as a tool in addressing illegal immigration and managing visa overstays, potentially making the UK less attractive to irregular migrants. This perspective reportedly aligns with claims from France, which has suggested that the absence of official identification acts as a “pull factor.”
The concept of compulsory identity cards is not unprecedented in the UK; a similar proposal by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006 was eventually abandoned. However, the current government has renewed the discussion, with the think tank Labour Together supporting the initiative as a means to reduce the number of visa overstayers.
Source: indianexpress.com