The scheme, which government says will curb undocumented immigration, has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.The United Kingdom has announced plans to introduce a digital ID scheme in a bid to curb undocumented immigration.Announced by the government on Friday, the scheme will see the digital ID of British citizens and residents held on phones. The government said there will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it, but that it will be “mandatory” for workers.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe UK has long resisted the idea of Identity cards, which were abolished after World War II, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is under pressure to tackle immigration that populist forces claim is uncontrolled.The free digital ID would include a person’s name, date of birth, and photo, as well as information on their nationality and residency status.It will be “mandatory as a means of proving your right to work”, a government statement said.“This will stop those with no right to be here from being able to find work, curbing their prospect of earning money, one of the key ‘pull factors’ for people who come to the UK illegally,” it added.The digital ID will also make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare, while streamlining access to tax records, the statement said.“Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK… It will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits,” Starmer said. “It will make it …
