The British government is moving forward with a national digital identity system, a plan that some say will help curb illegal immigration and labor fraud in the UK. However, other political leaders claim the system may be a form of government overreach that could threaten privacy.

Some lead officials across the pond, like Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claim that a digital ID system will allow citizens to prove who they are – whether for work checks (similar to an I-9 form in America that proves work eligibility), opening bank accounts, or accessing government services, without the need to carry physical documents.

Staremer has also consistently linked the new digital ID system to enhanced border security and a more equitable job market for British citizens.

“I know you’re worried about the level of illegal migration into this country. Digital ID is another measure to make it tougher to work illegally here, making our borders more secure. Ours is a fairer Britain, built on change, not division,” Starmer posted to X on Friday.

“Our immigration system needs to be fair. That’s why we are introducing digital ID — if you don’t have it, you can’t work here,” the Prime Minister added.

However, there seems to be a lingering worry about privacy.

In a recent “guidance report,” the British government outlined its plan, focusing on a “Trust Framework” and detailing safety standards, such as enforcing strict rules on data privacy, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention within the new ID system.

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Even so, opposition is mounting across the political spectrum in the UK. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to fight any system that effectively forces citizens into government tracking.

“Labour’s ‘Digital ID’ gimmick won’t stop the boats. It’s a desperate distraction from their scandals. We won’t back any system that makes ID mandatory for British citizens. Only Conservatives have a real plan to secure our borders,” Badenoch posted to X on Friday.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage went even further, warning that a digital ID could open the door to state control that has never been seen before in the UK. Farage also questioned the true motive for implementing the new system.

“We already have digital IDs to ensure migrants have the right to work here. Any foreign employee needs to get a share code on their E-Visa account and give it to the employer to check on a system. If an employer doesn’t get a share code, they’re breaking the law. We don’t need digital ID. What’s the real reason behind Starmer’s push for digital ID?” Farage wrote.

A petition against the Digital ID system has already received over 1 million signatures as of Friday morning.

Many responded to Starmer to express their distrust:

“This is the globalist playbook in action: 1. Create a problem or allow one to fester. 2. Wait for the public outcry. 3. Roll out the solution you planned all along. Every crisis – real or manufactured – becomes a pretext for measures you could never pass in calmer times. Digital ID isn’t about security. It’s about control. And it’s being pushed across nations simultaneously for a reason. Think. Question. Resist,” responded United Australia Party Senator for Victoria, Ralph Babet.

The UK has previously resisted the requirement for identity cards and does not currently maintain a central registry for its citizens. In 2011, the Conservative-led government repealed the legislation introduced under Tony Blair that had established voluntary national ID cards and a resident database.

Regardless, Steimer and the Labour party government continue to argue that a digital ID will not only strengthen border enforcement but also make everyday life easier – expediting applications for driver’s licenses and welfare, for example.

The government has promised a public consultation later this year, but the future of the Digital ID plan remains somewhat unclear. What was once dismissed as a heavy-handed surveillance tool in the UK is now being rebranded as a modern convenience that also helps fight mass migration.