The costs and politics of digital ID cards in the UK

Britain’s debate over national ID cards is resurfacing, driven by new political and economic realities. Two decades ago, Tony Blair’s government attempted to roll out ID cards, but public resistance and sharp concerns over privacy and cost doomed the plan. The original scheme, proposed shortly after the 9/11 attacks, centred on security and fraud prevention, entailing not only physical cards but also a contentious national identity register. Public outcry, with civil liberties campaigners to the fore, saw the coalition government scrap the scheme in 2011—though back then, issues of mass migration were not at the forefront of public consciousness.

Circumstances have changed rapidly. Net migration has more than doubled since 2002, with illegal migration surging and asylum claims at record highs. Today, immigration overtakes the NHS and security as the issue of primary concern for much of the electorate. Campaigners and policy thinkers now see a digital ID scheme as central to tightening border control and restoring public trust. The Labour Together think tank, closely associated with the current Labour leadership, advocates for a universal, downloadable ‘BritCard’ to establish citizens’ rights to work, rent, drive and bank in the UK. This would be a mandatory but free digital identity, accessible on smartphones, reflecting how much everyday life now revolves around digital verification.

Polling indicates broad public approval for such a measure, with many convinced it would deter illegal working and simplify compliance for employers. The crux of support lies in reducing the administrative burden and loopholes in the existing patchwork identity process. Currently, citizens navigate a complex web of documents for everything from jobs to NHS care, with 16 recognised ways just to prove the right to work. A unified digital ID could, in theory, be harder to forge and easier to verify. Proponents also tout its budgetary advantages. While the analogue ID card scheme was projected to cost some 18 billion pounds, a digital solution could cost as little as 150 to 400 million pounds, less than the annual Home Office spend on tackling illegal immigration.

However, not all are convinced by the budget figures or the promised results. Technology specialists caution that making the system robust and truly inclusive could drive costs far higher, perhaps requiring an order of magnitude more investment than advocates estimate. Critics argue that an effective digital ID would require sophisticated security, universal accessibility, and integration with government services—not a trivial undertaking. There is also concern that those hostile to immigration or regulation may simply evade new checks, as those who knowingly break the law already do.

The historical aversion in Britain to national ID cards—a legacy of wartime scarcity and civil liberties tradition—has faded in the digital era, with objection giving way to convenience in most walks of life. Increasingly, the public is required to use digital verification for age, social media, and financial transactions, diluting the argument that identity checks fundamentally violate British values. With jobs and social life migrating online, digital exclusion is slowly diminishing, despite concerns from campaigners for the digitally disadvantaged.

No firm decision has been taken by the current government about rolling out a mandatory digital ID. The idea is under review, while Labour MPs are actively making the case for action as a way to counter rivals like Reform UK, who thrive on the political fallout from migration scandals. If the momentum continues and public opinion remains favourable, a digital ID may soon move from a policy proposal to reality, reshaping the economic and social landscape for employers, workers, and the wider public.