Compulsory ID Cards?

[The Maroon Jacket]

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme in a speech on Friday.

The prime minister believes it would help crack down on illegal working and modernise the state, according to senior figures in government.

The practicalities of the scheme will be subject to a consultation, which will also look at how to make it work for those without a smartphone or passport.

The previous Labour government's attempt to introduce ID cards was ultimately blocked by the Conservative-Liberal

[JudyJudyJudy]

Voted. ! 

[Konrad von Carstein]

1 minute ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Voted. ! 

Reform

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 minute ago, Konrad von Carstein said:

Reform

 

Aye

[davemclaren]

2 hours ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Aye

God help us. 😎

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 minute ago, davemclaren said:

God help us. 😎

Oh u never know . It’ll be a while before the elections , I’ve been known to change my mind ! 😜

[davemclaren]

1 minute ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Oh u never know . It’ll be a while before the elections , I’ve been known to change my mind ! 😜

🤣🤣

[hughesie27]

What's the negative spin folk are putting on these? How are the Gov going ro be spying on us now?

[jkbam]

Same number of votes for id cards and reform, bet they all love the  too  

[If carlsberg did rivals...]

Absolutely terrifying the amount of people picked SNP for either election. What is their policies? INDEPENDENCE! INDEPENDENCE! INDEPENDENCE! Now onto their second unelected leader, absolute shambles of a party. Admittedly the 49 people who voted so far may not be a true representation of the wider Scottish public! 😀

[escobri]

Will be interesting to see the details later, surely the NI number is what is needed for new employment 🤷‍♂️.

[Libertarian]

Looks as though the contributors to this thread are overwhelmingly opposed to digital id cards. Anything like this proposal has the whiff of Nazi Germany about it 

[John Findlay]

ID cards don't bother me.

Had one for the whole of my duration in the RN. All UK military personnel have one.

[hughesie27]

27 minutes ago, If carlsberg did rivals... said:

Absolutely terrifying the amount of people picked SNP for either election. What is their policies? INDEPENDENCE! INDEPENDENCE! INDEPENDENCE! Now onto their second unelected leader, absolute shambles of a party. Admittedly the 49 people who voted so far may not be a true representation of the wider Scottish public! 😀

Both leaders were elected.

[Harry Potter]

32 minutes ago, jkbam said:

Same number of votes for id cards and reform, bet they all love the  too  

deary me.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I'll wait for a bit more detail but I'm all for it. 

[brunstanejambo]

Almost all EU countries (Denmark the only exception i believe) has them, and I've never heard any EU citizens complaining about them. 

 

Here in the UK, the vast majority of people probably have 2 or 3 other forms of ID that they carry/use regularly - driving license, passport, NI card. 

Why not combine them all?

What's the fear/danger of we have another separate one??

 

Security / identity theft concerns i hear the naysayers say...

Give me break - we all walk about with mobile phones on us. I'd be far more concerned about what Facebook, Google and Apple do with my personal information if I were that way inclined. 

[JamboGlen]

I have no problem with ID cards. Interestingly many EU countries issue National ID cards so for the SNP loving euro fantasists it would bring them in line.

Edited September 26 by JamboGlen

[Malinga the Swinga]

Don't see any issue with these cards at all. Should have had them years ago. Government can 'spy' on me if they want. Not sure it'll be the most exciting of jobs watching me trail back and forward to work, gym and football though.

[XB52]

46 minutes ago, If carlsberg did rivals... said:

Absolutely terrifying the amount of people picked SNP for either election. What is their policies? INDEPENDENCE! INDEPENDENCE! INDEPENDENCE! Now onto their second unelected leader, absolute shambles of a party. Admittedly the 49 people who voted so far may not be a true representation of the wider Scottish public! 😀

It's called democracy, where the people can vote, rather than shout on social media

[XB52]

I voted no for ID cards, not because I'm against the overall idea of them, but because Labour are only introducing this to, once again, cosy up to potential reform voters. 

[Mikey1874]

So no actual reasons for objecting to ID cards.

[escobri]

Digital ID cards are inevitable but to bring them in with this reasoning is bonkers, a one stop id for say passport, driving licence, NI number then yes, a mandatory card for every citizen to stop Mo from the boats working is nuts. 

 

[Libertarian]

Okay.  Who voted Green?

 

[joondalupjambo]

At the moment if a Government official walks into a nail bar, or a Turkish barbers or stops a Deliveroo cyclist on the basis of suspicion of them illegally being here how do they prove that?  Is it just a case of papers please or can I see your passport?  I genuinely do not know just wondering because if this is the main reason what is failing now?

[Mikey1874]

Compulsory national identity (ID) cards are required in over 100 countries worldwide, typically for citizens above a certain age (often 15–18). These cards serve as official proof of identity for accessing services like banking, healthcare, voting, employment, and travel within certain regions (e.g., EU/EEA).

 

"Compulsory" generally means legal possession is mandated, though requirements to carry them at all times vary—some countries penalize non-possession, while others only enforce it for specific activities.

 

Fewer than 10 countries (mostly in the Anglosphere, like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland) lack any national ID card system, relying on alternatives like passports or driver's licenses.

 

[Mikey1874]

1 minute ago, joondalupjambo said:

At the moment if a Government official walks into a nail bar, or a Turkish barbers or stops a Deliveroo cyclist on the basis of suspicion of them illegally being here how do they prove that?  Is it just a case of papers please or can I see your passport?  I genuinely do not know just wondering because if this is the main reason what is failing now?

 

So it's partly a deterrent. Because it's mostly very easy just now. Employers will need to tighten up too.

 

In the UK, immigration officials—primarily from the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement (IE) directorate—focus on detecting and addressing individuals living illegally (often termed "illegal entrants," "overstayers," or those in breach of immigration conditions) through a combination of intelligence-led operations, public tips, and routine checks. The goal is to enforce compliance with immigration laws, disrupt exploitation (e.g., illegal working), and facilitate removal from the country. Prosecution for immigration offenses is possible but rare; the priority is swift administrative removal. As of September 2025, under the Labour government's "Plan for Change," enforcement has intensified, with a 38% rise in visits and arrests since July 2024 compared to the previous year, including record January 2025 activity (828 raids and 609 arrests).85f706478e9a This includes redeploying 1,000 staff to enforcement roles and new tech like body-worn cameras for 1,200 officers and biometric fingerprint kits.

 

Overview of UK Immigration Enforcement

In the UK, immigration officials—primarily from the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement (IE) directorate—focus on detecting and addressing individuals living illegally (often termed "illegal entrants," "overstayers," or those in breach of immigration conditions) through a combination of intelligence-led operations, public tips, and routine checks. The goal is to enforce compliance with immigration laws, disrupt exploitation (e.g., illegal working), and facilitate removal from the country. Prosecution for immigration offenses is possible but rare; the priority is swift administrative removal.

 

As of September 2025, under the Labour government's "Plan for Change," enforcement has intensified, with a 38% rise in visits and arrests since July 2024 compared to the previous year, including record January 2025 activity (828 raids and 609 arrests). This includes redeploying 1,000 staff to enforcement roles and new tech like body-worn cameras for 1,200 officers and biometric fingerprint kits.

 

Main actions

 

1. Public reports and tips. Tip hotline.

2. Workplace inspections and raids

3. Border and intelligence-led operations ('smashing the gangs').

4. Routine checks and data matching (what id cards make easier)

 

 

[PortyJambo]

1 hour ago, XB52 said:

I voted no for ID cards, not because I'm against the overall idea of them, but because Labour are only introducing this to, once again, cosy up to potential reform voters. 

Plus, they're saying it'll cut down on illegal immigrants working (to appeal to the Reform voters). I doubt that, seeing as most people who would employ them aren't going to put them through the official books, it's probably all cash in hand and under the counter.

[SE16 3LN]

Freedom, there ain't no ****ing freedom.

 

Every action and financial transaction monitored by the state. no thank you mugs.

[Gundermann]

How's the Brit card gonna work in the north of Ireland? Or will they be exempt again because bams?

[SE16 3LN]

1 minute ago, PortyJambo said:

Plus, they're saying it'll cut down on illegal immigrants working (to appeal to the Reform voters). I doubt that, seeing as most people who would employ them aren't going to put them through the official books, it's probably all cash in hand and under the counter.

There will be no cash

[hughesie27]

1 minute ago, SE16 3LN said:

Freedom, there ain't no ****ing freedom.

 

Every action and financial transaction monitored by the state. no thank you mugs.

You don't have a Smart Meter do you?

[SE16 3LN]

Just now, hughesie27 said:

You don't have a Smart Meter do you?

no

[hughesie27]

17 minutes ago, SE16 3LN said:

no

Sticking it to the man. I like it. Just be careful with that Broadband connection.

[Japan Jambo]

12 hours ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Aye

 

Feck sake Jamesy you've tried more parties than Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh! 😂

[Libertarian]

Petition for those opposed to id cards.

 

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730194

 

[Mikey1874]

25 minutes ago, SE16 3LN said:

Freedom, there ain't no ****ing freedom.

 

Every action and financial transaction monitored by the state. no thank you mugs.

 

No. You won't use an id card to buy anything. You will continue to use debit and credit cards. 

 

That's monitored by the banks and those like Google they have sold the data to.

[SE16 3LN]

7 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

Sticking it to the man. I like it. Just be careful with that Broadband connection.

I piggy back on my posh neighbour who dodges tax.

[pablo]

Not before time. Great idea and the sooner the better

[SE16 3LN]

3 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

No. You won't use an id card to buy anything. You will continue to use debit and credit cards. 

 

That's monitored by the banks and those like Google they have sold the data to.

Your work status and tax status will be on these cards. It's being sold as a convenience to the citizens. A huge number of people already use their phone to make financial transactions, the ID card will be able to do whatever its designed to do. Benefit claimants (including state pensions) have the most to fear. CBDC and UBI will all enhanced with the ID card. 

 

Good bye cash.

 

[SE16 3LN]

9 minutes ago, pablo said:

Not before time. Great idea and the sooner the better

Christ I'm a Robot

I Obey

[pablo]

2 minutes ago, SE16 3LN said:

Christ I'm a Robot

I Obey

 

No ID - no employment, No ID - no NHS, No ID - no education, No ID - no housing.

 

Anyone found without ID, arrested and circumstances investigated.

 

Sounds okay to me.

 

 

[Mikey1874]

9 minutes ago, SE16 3LN said:

Your work status and tax status will be on these cards. It's being sold as a convenience to the citizens. A huge number of people already use their phone to make financial transactions, the ID card will be able to do whatever its designed to do. Benefit claimants (including state pensions) have the most to fear. CBDC and UBI will all enhanced with the ID card. 

 

Good bye cash.

 

 

No

 

The ID card won't track debit and credit card or cash payments. 

[Mikey1874]

Just now, pablo said:

 

No ID - no employment, No ID - no NHS, No ID - no education, No ID - no housing.

 

Anyone found without ID, arrested and circumstances investigated.

 

Sounds okay to me.

 

 

 

No ID, no employment has been the rule for years.

 

Or that is the law unless you break the law to save paying tax.

[If carlsberg did rivals...]

2 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

Both leaders were elected.

Swinney and the other fella who was so bad I've forgotten his name were voted for by the electorate?

[If carlsberg did rivals...]

1 hour ago, XB52 said:

It's called democracy, where the people can vote, rather than shout on social media

The people did vote and said NO! As for democracy remind me when we voted for Swinney and his predecessor to lead the country. I seem to recall when the Tories were changing PM a lot the SNP were screaming for a general election, yet strangely quiet when they're the ones doing it.

[Mikey1874]

 

[pablo]

5 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

No ID, no employment has been the rule for years.

 

Or that is the law unless you break the law to save paying tax.

 

Yes, that's true. But I'm hopeful that it would be the first step to focus on the sectors and industries who notoriously employ illegals.

 

Not for checking the HR employee records of corporations initially. As those checks are water tight already. 

[Japan Jambo]

4 minutes ago, pablo said:

 

No ID - no employment, No ID - no NHS, No ID - no education, No ID - no housing.

 

Anyone found without ID, arrested and circumstances investigated.

 

Sounds okay to me.

 

 

 

That's absolutely not what Nandi was promising on the radio this morning though... Only used for employment/not compulsory to have it on you was what they are proposing. Half arsed, ill considered and won't work. The way you are describing it has much more merit and would be worthy of debate.

[The Mighty Thor]

41 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

Sticking it to the man. I like it. Just be careful with that Broadband connection.

And bank app

And mobile phone