2025 – 004 Digital ID

Digital ID: Starmer’s Fake “Fix” For Immigration

Desperate Keir Starmer wants to claim a national digital ID will “fix illegal immigration.”

This is a fantasy, as we explain below – but there is a real danger it appeals to people worried about high immigration in recent years. Join Together HERE to fight back against their latest convenient excuse.
First, some basic points

• Countries with national ID systems – like Germany, France, and Italy – have large unauthorised migrant populations just like the UK.
• If an Uber driver, Deliveroo rider, or car wash worker is here illegally, there are already laws and systems to tackle this. Digital ID won’t change that. It’s an enforcement problem, not a tech problem.
• In terms of people who arrive here illegally, in essence: Border Force picks them up. The state houses them. The state processes asylum claims. If rejected, they’re told to leave. Most don’t. That’s not an ID failure – it’s the state failing to enforce its own rules.

Here are 5 of the most common claims made by those pushing digital ID, and the reality behind each one:

Claim 1: “If everyone has a digital ID, illegal immigration will stop.”

Reality: Germany, France and Italy already issue mandatory IDs – yet they host hundreds of thousands of unauthorised migrants.

Examples:

• Germany recorded 91,000 irregular entries in 2022 – around twice the UK’s, in UK’s peak year to date.
• In 2024, Italy had around 67,000 irregular sea arrivals – by far the highest (vs. ~37,000 in UK).

Claim 2: “Digital ID stops people sneaking in.”

Reality: Most UK unauthorised migrants arrive legally and overstay visas.

Post-entry ID checks don’t stop this.

Claim 3: “Digital ID ends illegal working.” 

Reality: In countries with advanced ID systems, forged/stolen IDs and off-the-books work remain common.

France’s shadow economy is around 10% of GDP, for example.

Claim 4: Digital ID would “stop NHS use” by illegal migrants 

Reality: GPs and A&E are already open to all by law. Hospital care is already chargeable if you’re not ordinarily resident.

This is a deliberate policy choice, supported by NHS guidance, not a tech gap. Digital ID adds nothing.

Claim 5: “Digital ID just makes life easier for everyone.”

Reality: It risks mass surveillance, data breaches, racial profiling and excluding those without tech.

The eVisa rollout is already dragging lawful residents into a Windrush-style mess.

In short, the claim Digital ID will “solve” illegal immigration is just the latest excuse in a long line… 

It comes from dubious characters like Tony Blair who have a decades-long obsession with “tagging”, tracking and “managing” British citizens.

Imposing a national digital ID system would just be a costly distraction from the Home Office’s basic job:

• Process claims quickly
• Enforce existing laws
• Remove those with no right to remain

No tech gimmick will substitute for that.

A national digital ID system won’t control immigration – but it will control YOU.

This is a threat to everyone’s freedom, privacy, and safety – and we say NO.

If you agree, as well as taking the actions at our campaign page here, please join Together as a member so we can fight this as strongly as possible – thank you.