Keir Starmer led a meeting with ministers on Tuesday to discuss plans tackling illegal migration © Toby Melville/AFP/Getty via Financial Times
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is exploring a digital ID rollout aimed at reducing illegal working by irregular migrants and addressing concerns from France that the UK’s labour market is a “soft touch.” The plan is still at an exploratory stage, with ministers assessing whether digital IDs could help people access government services and verify their identity for prospective employers.
The UK government is taking a closer look at Estonia’s digital ID system as an example. In Estonia, everyone has a digital ID they can use to vote online, sign documents, and access healthcare. Labour has long been cautious about national ID schemes over privacy concerns, but Downing Street says the debate has shifted, and the focus is now on practical ways to make the system work.
The Home Office is reaching out to tens of thousands of foreign students to warn them that overstaying their visas or making unfounded asylum claims could result in deportation. Around 130,000 students and their families are expected to receive texts and emails explaining the consequences .
This comes at a time when public concern over immigration is rising, support for parties like Reform UK is growing, and questions remain about how UK law aligns with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Home Secretary Cooper has suspended asylum family reunion applications and indicated that UK courts could interpret ECHR rulings differently without needing to suspend the convention.
Overall, the digital ID programme aims to balance efficiency and civil liberties, drawing lessons from Estonia’s long-standing e-ID system while providing the government with tools to reduce illegal working and streamline services.
Reference: Melville, T. (2025, September 3). Keir Starmer chairs ministerial meeting on tackling illegal migration. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/8fb84dce-f902-435b-8832-45fbc5994ace