UK Government under pressure from MPs to introduce digital IDs to control migration

More than 40 Labour MPs have urged the government to introduce digital IDs in a bid to “get a grip” on illegal migration.

The MPs argue the system would help the government tackle “off the books employment” and “modern slavery”, as well as improve access to public services.

The policy, backed by three of Labour's backbench groups — the Labour Growth Group, the Red Wall Group and the Blue Labour group – was first proposed by former prime minister Tony Blair in 2006. However, Blair dropped the policy following a backlash from civil liberties campaigners.

Since then, he has repeatedly called on the government to launch a form of digital identification to manage immigration and tackle crime. However, in July the idea was ruled out by business secretary Jonathan Reynolds who said the policy wasn’t in the government’s plans. However, a recent YouGov poll suggests six in ten voters support the policy.

In an open letter, the Labour MPs say it would transform public services and tackle tax fraud. Among signatories to the letter is Scottish Labour MP Gregor Poynton.

The letter states: “From patient passports in our NHS to more tailored education services, to tackling benefit fraud and to offering more targeted financial support, the government ability to be proactive and efficient would be exponentially improved by a digital ID programme. It would also greatly assist the HMRC in hunting down tax avoidance and evasion.”

MPs also argue the system would streamline ‘citizen-statement’ engagement, including tax payments, passport renewals and booking an NHS appointment.

The letter continues: “It is absurd in the 21st century that our NHS relies upon a physical red book to monitors the health of new-born babies. The revolution of artificial intelligence in government and the development of e-government will only succeed with better data. Better, more productive government, is a catalyst for economic growth – avoiding the doom-loop of more borrowing and higher taxes."

The MPs claimed failing to introduce the system would put the UK at risk of relying on “archaic government infrastructure and process”.

“Without a gear-shift in this area, we will be danger of looking wistfully at a golden, missed opportunity. Now is the time to act.”

Speaking to Politics Home, Lola McEvoy, vice-chair of the Labour Growth Group, argued that a digital ID would drive efficiency within government.

She said: “I do think it's Labour's job to deliver this digitisation agenda, because it helps in every government department.

“It is a huge part of productivity in transforming the role of the state and improving government services”.

Research by the Tony Blair Institute think tank estimates that it would cost £1bn to roll-out the system.