The UK government has announced plans for a compulsory digital ID scheme, aimed at tightening immigration controls and preventing undocumented workers from accessing employment opportunities.

The free digital ID would store names, birth dates, photos, nationality, and residency status, and would be mandatory to prove the right to work. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the move will strengthen borders and make it easier for citizens to access services such as tax records, welfare, and licenses.

But critics warn it threatens privacy and could exclude the digitally disadvantaged. With immigration under populist pressure, the Labour government is betting public support will outweigh long-held resistance to national ID cards.