Thursday, 15 May 2025

United Kingdom On The Path To Digital ID?

100 Percent Fed Up
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More than 40 Labour MPs are urging ministers to introduce digital ID for the United Kingdom.

The Labour MPs claimed in a letter that digital identification would help crack down on illegal immigration and boost the delivery of public services.

However, they failed to mention digital ID is the launching pad into the technocratic surveillance state.

“This was always the endgame. Instead of detaining and then deporting those who are illegally here, the state now proposes digital ID for everyone — forcing the native population to sacrifice civil liberties under the guise of migration control. Authoritarianism in slow motion,” independent journalist Lewis Brackpool commented.

BBC reports:

The idea of digital ID for all has long been backed by former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair and former Conservative leader William Hague.

But the BBC understands the government has no plans to introduce mandatory digital ID.

The letter said while the government had made “great strides” on digitising identification, “the time has come for a more comprehensive programme”.

“The truth is we are moving to an era of digital ID,” Jake Richards, one of the Labour MPs who signed the letter, told the BBC.

“The government knows this – and is bringing forward new developments with digital driving licences and passports, but we want them to move faster, to ensure the project is comprehensive and joined-up and, critically, bring the public with them.”

The group argues digital ID could help tackle “illegal off-the-books employment”.

The proposal falls short of the compulsory identity cards Sir Tony brought in when he was prime minister.

“A digital identity system could give the Government a blank cheque to create a massive database state. Population ID card systems have been rallied by politicians under various guises – they’ve been packaged as a solution to fight terrorism, to control immigration, and even to protect us from Covid. The public have fought back each time,” Big Brother Watch noted.

“Barcoding Britain is not a solution to complex societal problems. Instead this could have a serious bearing on privacy & equality in the UK. The Government should drop plans for a liberty-eroding digital ID system now,” it added.

From The Guardian:

The open letter – organised by the Rother Valley MP, Jake Richards – has been signed by the co-chairs of the Labour Growth Group, Chris Curtis and Lola McEvoy, as well as Jo White, who convenes the Labour Red Wall Group. Other signatories include Dan Carden and Jonathan Brash, members of the Blue Labour group of socially conservative MPs.

The letter, which has been shared with the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, has also been signed by some of the most prominent names in the 2024 intake, including MPs Polly Billington, Jess Asato, Mike Tapp, Joe Powell and Emily Darlington.

Richards has been an outspoken advocate in parliament for the party to do more to tackle the threat of Reform UK and crack down on illegal migration.

The letter called on the government to revive the idea of ID cards – a hugely controversial policy proposal during Tony Blair’s era – but said digital IDs were the right route for the modern economy. It said it would mean citizens could “engage with the state more seamlessly”, including booking GP appointments, renewing passports or paying tax.

“It is absurd in the 21st century our NHS relies on a physical red book to monitor the health of newborn babies,” the letter said.

It said the move would meet the government’s objections of making the state more efficient and crack down on “off-the-books employment, boost lagging public sector productivity, and provide faster, more efficient access to healthcare, welfare and public services”.


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